Pic: David Cann
AdYOs Maestro Series 2/Evenings at Elder Hall: Titan Concerts are a collaborative performance between two musically gifted groups, and on Sunday the Adelaide Youth Orchestra, teaming up for the first time ever with the University of Adelaide’s Elder Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra, managed to perform a flawless concert in the stately confines of Elder Hall. From the opening 7 chords of Schubert’s ‘Overture to Rosamunde’, until the final note of Mahler’s ‘Titan’, the orchestra, under the masterful hand of Mr Keith Crellin OAM, were a demonstration of excellence and perfection.
Commencing with Schubert’s ‘Overture to Rosamunde’, The Elder Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra (ECSO) gave a tight, polished performance of Schubert’s final work before his death in 1828. One would have excused the odd mistake from a relatively young and inexperienced orchestra, but this was not the case at all and these performers were simply divine and remained focussed throughout. This piece finished with the crescendo leading into the finale, and by this time the appreciative audience was completely enthralled.
After momentarily departing the stage, Crellin returned with soloist Samantha Webber to play Clarinet for the next work- Weber’s joyous ‘Concertino for Clarinet and Orchestra Op.26′. In this her soloist debut, twenty year old Webber exquisitely played each note to perfection, and set the bar for her fellow musicians who had no trouble matching her level of talent. With the ritual stomping of feet on the stage, the orchestra and audience summoned her back to the stage to take a well earned second bow.
After a short interval, and with the addition of the Adelaide Youth Orchestra to the stage, Mahler: Symphony No 1 in D Major -Titan was the final piece of the afternoon to be performed. A beautiful piece in four movements, Titan is a string heavy yet ethereal and serene journey into another more peaceful reality, with Mahler’s ebbs and flows of emotions taking you to beautiful places within. It finishes dramatically and triumphantly, perfectly summing up the evening overall. The superb acoustic setting of Elder Hall with the spectacular French style organ and gorgeous architecture is the perfect backdrop for concerts and this array of young talent are equally as impressive as the numerous encores demanded by the audience proved.
With young talent at this level, there is little doubt that there are some bright futures ahead not only for these two orchestra’s, but for classical music as a whole.
Bravo!
Reviewed by Darren Hassan Sunday 15 June 2014
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