Manchester Camerata

Westmorland Hall, Kendal

The Manchester Camerata’s recent concert was one of the most remarkable occasions of all the Lakeland Sinfonia Concert Society’s seasons. The combination of imaginative programming and musicianship of the highest order ensured an experience that will long remain in the memory of those privileged to be present.

The evening’s extrovert luminary was cellist, Giovanni Sollima. With ravishing tone, phenomenal technical facility and finesse, supreme musicianship and total involvement in performances of Schumann’s Cello Concerto in A minor and his own colourful, imaginatively-scored work, Folktales for Cello and Orchestra, he stole the hearts of all! Folktales - unbelievably virtuosic, but occasionally mysterious and lyrical - places huge demands on all participants but every challenge was triumphantly surmounted.

Under the inspired leadership of Giovanni Guzzo, the Camerata contributed hugely to the evening’s success. Sonorous string tone in Elgar’s Introduction and Allegro, strong awareness of its accompaniment role in the concerto, crisp woodwind and brass input and, despite being largely conductor-less, utter rhythmic precision throughout a programme that also included Piazzola’s Libertango.

After two heart-stopping encores, the audience gave Sollima vociferous standing ovations – unusual for Kendal, perhaps, but eminently deserved!

Brian Paynes