Westmorland Orchestra

Lakes Leisure Kendal

'Entente Cordiale' was the phrase used by conductor, Richard Howarth, to describe the Westmorland Orchestra’s recent concert programme in which we heard three works by British composers, Walton, Vaughan Williams and Elgar before moving across the channel for Berlioz’s dramatic Symphonie fantastique.

The orchestra took some time to settle down. The brass tended to overpower the strings in Walton’s rousing coronation overture, Orb and Sceptre, and there were some rhythmic inaccuracies. But confidence was restored when Kendal South Choir joined the orchestra for a performance of Vaughan Williams’ Toward the Unknown Region, ably directed by Ian Thompson, the choir’s director. The singers sounded confident with the tenors in particular producing some lovely tone.

Richard Howarth returned to the platform for a performance of Elgar’s Wand of Youth Suite No 2, based on tunes the composer wrote in childhood. In this and Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique the players impressed by their ability to rise to the technical and musical challenges both works presented. The strings produced a firm sound without any sign of nervousness; the woodwind principals were outstanding in their many solo passages; the brass added the right amount of weight to the climaxes, while the percussion section provided atmosphere and colour. Well done to all for a fine concert!

Clive Walkley