These are nights to savour: The remarkable Lito Fontana was in Cardiff and making everyone smile in complete and utter musical satisfaction.

His visit from his home in Austria had been arranged as part of the college’s enviable programme of student degree development - one that regularly sees renowned world class performers come to the Welsh capital to work directly with the lucky young so and so’s.

Lucky so and so's

Over his two day visit (the third was for sightseeing with his wonderful wife Mona) he inspired his talented charges in a series of workshops and masterclasses alongside Dr Robert Childs, before preparing for the evening concert, which not surprisingly had attracted an expectant audience - many travelling from well over the Severn Bridge to hear him in action.

The programme, cleverly picked by the MD, (who certainly enjoyed himself all night) was packed with items with strong, not so strong, and even suspiciously tenuous musical themes linked to Fontana’s original homeland of Argentina. 

Awestruck

However, nobody in the awestruck audience was too bothered (thanks to the MDs witty tongue in cheek presentation) that the eclectic segues included everything from Jaime Texidor’s ‘Aparito Roca’ and Malcolm Arnold’s ‘Siciliano’ to Ennio Morricone’s ‘Gabriel’s Oboe’ and even Peter Graham’s ‘Earth Walk’ from ‘Windows of the World’.

Showman personality

The RWCMD Brass Band was on fine form - with excellent solo leads from the likes of Stephanie Wilkins on cornet, Grant Jameson on euph, Huw Evans on trombone and Max Ireland on kit, whilst the ensemble playing was neat, cultured and balanced. 

A breezy ‘Capriccio Espagnol’ and a fleet footed ‘Amparito Roca’ were the prelude to the appearance of the Argentinean star - a wonderful showman personality who balances his extravagant playing gifts with a genuinely humble personal sincerity.

Take the lead

Robin Dewhurst’s ‘Brasilia’ and ‘For a Love Lost’ by Tom Davoren were delivered with contrasting flamboyance and heartfelt lyricism, before he generously directed the spotlight, like a masterful dance instructor allowing his partner to take the lead, to the excellent Stephanie Wilkins in the taxing ‘Fandango’ duet by Joseph Turrin.   

Pampas bull

In the second half, the band once again provided a fine musical introduction, with Howard Snell’s dry witted ‘Postcard from Mexico’ and the simple beauty of Arnold’s ‘Siciliano’ paving the way for Fontana’s sensational treatment of  ‘Libertango’ - performed with the raw brilliance and power of a Pampas bull on full charge mode.

A red blooded ‘Return to Sorrento’ and fizzing ‘Bolivar’ rounded off a quite stunning personal contribution to a memorable night - although there was just time for a playful run through the trombone trio ’Blades of Toldedo’ before the band closed with a controlled touch of 50’s Americana and the final segments of the Eric Crees arrangement of Bernstein’s ‘West Side Story’ Suite.

No wonder everyone went home with a smile on their face.

Iwan Fox