EMG SYMPHONY ORCHESTRAL CONCERT

GREAT HALL, UNIVERSITY OF EXETER

SATURDAY 29th. NOVEMBER 2003.

ROTARY BENEFITS FROM EMG CONCERT

The International Rotary movement appeal for the worldwide eradication of polio is set to benefit from a considerable sum as the result of last Saturday's concert in the Great Hall of the University of Exeter. Given by the EMG Symphony Orchestra, the concert project was coordinated by the Rotary Club of Otter Valley, and they helped to ensure a tremendous response. The centre picture below shows Keith Fulford (Chairman EMGSO) and Roger Hendy (MD) presenting the final cheque to Jim Mullen, Ottery Valley Rotary at a recent meeting. Over £3500 was raised for charity.

Musically, the concert conducted by East Devon's Roger Hendy, was another triumph for the orchestra. It is a great tribute to the musicians to be found locally, here in Devon, that playing of such quality is possible. And the orchestra never takes easy options in choosing its programmes.

This was a concert of Great Russian Classics but, except for the final 1812 Overture, it didn't consist of the obvious popular works but rather two outstanding works of the 20^th. century - the Fifth Symphony of Shostakovich and the First Piano Concerto of Prokofiev.

The pianist in the concerto was the remarkably talented young pianist from Talaton, Robin Davis. He has just graduated from Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, where he was an organ scholar. He found the percussive nature of Prokofiev's writing, and the driving rhythms and ecstatic mood to his liking, in a seemingly faultless performance of what, at the time of its premiere in 1912, was described as 'football' music. His playing had great verve, clarity, and  variety of tone. At times the orchestra might have been reined in a little so that he could have been heard to greater advantage.

The Shostakovich symphony was the one which returned its composer to favour with the Communist authorities as 'The creative reply of a Soviet artist to justified criticism'. It has proved to be his most popular symphony, with great dramatic interest and striking contrasts. It opened the concert and the orchestra took a few minutes to settle in the searching first movement, where the upper strings found themselves a little exposed at times, but they went on to give a vivid account with solos beautifully taken by the leader (Clare Smith), and members of the woodwind section. The large horn and brass sections gave a superb display of fine playing. Roger Hendy took his players through to the finale at a cracking pace and there was no sign of flagging.

Then to end there was Tchaikovsky's  Festival Overture (The Year 1812), better known simply as the 1812 Overture. It enjoyed a suitably bombastic performance with the percussion section enjoying themselves in the guise of cannons and mortars as the Battle of Borodino and Napoleon's retreat from Moscow were portrayed.

A special mention must be made of the piece which opened the concert. It was, of course, the National Anthem. Here Roger Hendy proved himself to be an able composer - or arranger, as well as a conductor and string player in his own right. For this concert he made a special, rousing arrangement of God save the Queen, with syncopations and an exciting part for the brass. It set proceedings off to a fine start.

East Devon Press - 30.11.03.

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