English National Gala Concert

Fodens Richardson Band
Conductor: Garry Cutt
Soloist: Ben Thomson
Preston Guild Hall
Saturday 30th June

If there was one thing that was disappointing about the English National Gala Concert was that we had to wait so long to hear the thing.

With the actual contest finishing before 5 o'clock there was an hour and a half's wait before the 2006 champion, Fodens Richardson took to the stage to entertain a small but appreciative audience of around 300 people (actually it was 276 – someone counted). The contest day therefore ended around 8.00pm.

It reinforced the opinion that there was no need for a Gala Concert in the first place, especially as the contest itself was so well run the whole day could have been over by 6.00pm and everyone back home enjoying a pint and a Chinese take away in time for the 10.00 o'clock news. As an idea it was always going to be a risky strategy, and so it proved. Not allowing bandsmen in for the concert but allowing them in for the results was also an idea that backfired too, although there was some moves made to let them in to boost the numbers with a sympathetically turned ‘blind eye'.

In the event though Fodens Richardson conducted by Garry Cutt produced a professional hour of entertainment – a credit to themselves, as they surely wouldn't have enjoyed the long wait before they could enjoy the delights of Saturday night in Preston.

Frank Renton was on hand to ensure things ran smoothly from the stage (including one excellent little bon mot about the difference in sartorial elegance of the French and British representatives from sponsors Besson) and the actual results ceremony was slickly done.

Before all that Fodens displayed their talents and Ben Thomson displayed his extravagant gifts as a tuba soloist – even though he does now look nothing like his picture in the programme and bears a passing resemblance to Vic Reeves (the yellow shirt was a bit of a eye waterer as well). What a player though.

There was plenty to admire about Fodens display too. A neat ‘Agincourt Song' and upbeat ‘Valero' gave way to a cracking run through ‘Le Corsair' (with excellent flugel horn playing from Helen Fox). ‘A Carmen Fantasy' did have its sticky moments though, although the playing of Mark Wilkinson, Helen Fox and Alan Wycherly was a delight to listen too after a long days contesting.

Ben Thomson then took to the stage. As we have said, he has either grown an extra foot in the last year or it was a picture of his younger brother in the programme. He is a young man with an engaging personality to watch perform on stage and a very mature and gifted soloist to listen to. A lovely warm and vibrant tuba sound is matched to near flawless technique and a fine sense of musicianship in his ability to make subtle changes in timbre to project the tuba voice. ‘Capriccio' was delivered with a real sense of artistic aplomb. Some player indeed.

Back to Fodens with ‘The President' – complete with errant side drum entry at the very end (you know – the bit that someone always gets wrong if they are not concentrating) before a tremendous display of quality quiet ensemble playing in ‘I'll Walk with God' which was 1000% better than Frank Renton's ‘dyslexia joke' about Garry Cutt walking the pet dog.

Helen Fox produced a flawless account of ‘Georgia on My Mind', which perhaps odd to say just needed a few little scruffy moments to really come across as old Hoagy Carmichael intended.  ‘Comedy Tonight' was slick and very quick in places, before Mark Landon spread the cheese as thick as a slice of Chedder in a Wallace and Gromit movie with ‘Robbin' Harry'.  Not his fault really, just the piece (as Frank said). A brilliant display of technique from a gifted young man though.

Finally then Frank Renton's own tour de force arrangement of the Saint-Saens ‘Organ Symphony', which understandably sounded tired and strained in places, but was still a fine effort after a taxing old day for the band.

Overall a fine hours entertainment – but the wrong hour all the same. Fodens deserve credit for their professionalism and Garry Cutt for his conducting which at times was a delightful mix of the minimalist and the extravagant.  The organisers though may have to think about doing this again in this format before next year.

Iwan Fox.

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