Lakeland Sinfonia, Westmorland Hall, Kendal

The Lakeland Sinfonia’s concert was given a kick-start when its conductor, Wyn Davies, appeared on stage attired in a new-image, colourfully embroidered black jacket and pink-rimmed spectacles. This vision had an immediate effect: the performance of the opening piece – Rossini’s overture, The Italian Girl in Algiers - had an energetic sparkle that, allied with the beauty of the many lyrical episodes, boded well for the rest of the evening.

Chopin’s piano concerti are every audience’s favourites although rarely so for orchestral players relegated to a mainly backseat role. The Sinfonia, partnering Martino Tirimo in Chopin’s 2nd Concerto, accomplished this subordinate, yet possible-error-strewn task so well. Tirimo’s eloquent, stylistic pianism was followed with leech-like sensitivity by Wyn Davies and his charges.

Ravel’s Pavane pour une infante défunte - full of challenges (mostly successfully met) placed the orchestra back in pole position. After some lovely shimmering French sounds, the concert’s finale, Beethoven’s 4th Symphony, a far-from-easy cakewalk at the end of a demanding evening, received a persuasive interpretation. Energy, lyricism, positive ensemble work, impressive woodwind contributions, and, yes, occasional lapses, meant that everyone could retire to the bar and celebrate a successful evening.

Brian Paynes