European Gala Concert

Brass Band Oberosterreich, Cory, Austrian Youth Band
Conductors: Hannes Buchegger, Dr Robert Childs
Soloists: Hans Gansch, Selina Ott
Brucknerhaus
Linz
Saturday 1st May

The climax of the whole European Championship event in Linz took place on Saturday night, when the Brucknerhaus was full to the brim for the Gala Concert, which was long and worthy, but also highly enjoyable.

Star of the show

The star of the show was without doubt Hans Gansch, who produced a performance of the rarest beauty on two movements of Alessandro Marcello’s ‘Concerto in D Minor’ on piccolo trumpet.

The prolonged standing ovation was a testimony to his remarkable talent – you could have listened to him play all night.

Whirlwind

Earlier the impressive Austrian Youth Band directed by Hannes Buchegger (Austria’s ‘Mr Brass’ as Frank Renton called him) displayed their talents to the full with a well chosen programme of music that also featured 11 year old Selina Ott playing Philip Sparke’s ‘Whirlwind’.

Miss Ott is a fine young player at the moment and will no doubt become a very fine one in years to come, and Hannes Buchegger ensured she enjoyed her moment in the spotlight to the full. It could have been one of the cringe moments when a freakishly prodigious talent is displayed like a circus act, but not here.

Remarkable

With the Youth Band closing their contribution with a remarkable bit of playing on Barrie Gott’s ‘Funk’ from his ‘Jazz Suite’, the short break allowed the audience the chance to relax before the reigning European champions Cory delivered a timely reminder of their class with a well chosen programme from Robert Childs.

Owen Farr very nearly stole the spotlight from Hans Gansch with a superb rendition of the ‘Finale’ from the Haydn  ‘Cello Concerto’, whilst the rest of the band let its hair down with Wilby’s ‘Into the Light’, Dan Price’s ‘King of Swing’ feature and Michael Golding’s upbeat ‘Fabric in Brass’.

Virtuosity

With another interval to refresh the senses, it was left to Brass Band Oberosterreich to display their stunning virtuosity.

The opening ‘Wiener Phiharmoniker Fanfare’ by Richard Strauss and ‘Karelia’ ‘Alla Marcia’ by Sibelius was music right up their alley (to nick a well worn test piece title on the weekend), and showed just how at home the players of the band in orchestral brass mode.

Imperious

The imperious Mr Gansch followed, before the band let their hair down with three bon-bon items that featured a stunning vocalist in Regina Mallinger and even more stunning solo contributions form the indefatigable Gansch and his fellow superstar, trombonist, Lito Fontana.

Despite the hour, the crowed bayed for more and it got a huge dollop of showcase brilliance for its patience with an encore of a Dixieland medley and ‘Amazing Grace’ that peeled the varnish off the walls of the hall.

After this, the results ceremony was almost an anti climax.

Iwan Fox

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