Black Dyke Band
Conductor: Prof Nicholas Childs 
Guest Soloist: David Childs
Lucerne 25th Anniversary Concert
KKL Hall, Lucern
Saturday 21st September

Black Dyke’s connection to the banding movement in Switzerland started well before the first Swiss Open Championship was held in 1990.

Numerous tours and concert appearances have also been strengthened by a long term recording connection to Obrasso Verlag, owned by the Obrecht family who have been the driving force behind the popularity of a contest which continues to attract a packed audience to the magnificent KKL Hall. 

Their return this year was welcomed by a rousing reception and a standing ovation at its close.

Tradition

Tradition demanded the signature march, ‘Queensbury’  and the overture ‘Poet and Peasant’,  although it was the major test-piece inclusion of ‘Antiphones on Themes by William Byrd’  that captured the imagination with its clever combination of sumptuous tunes, technical virtuosity and eye-catching choreography.

it was the major test-piece inclusion of ‘Antiphones on Themes by William Byrd’  that captured the imagination with its clever combination of sumptuous tunes, technical virtuosity and eye-catching choreography.

Easy listening showcases came with the familiar ‘James Bond Suite’,  ‘Ad Astra’  and ‘Immortal’,  which were balanced against the warmth and tenderness of ‘Hymn for Bram’  and the fun of the encores of ‘Sweet Georgia Brown’  and ‘Mahalgaesca’. 

Force of Nature

Even Black Dyke on top class form were overshadowed though by the remarkable artistry of David Childs. 

Peter Graham’s ‘Force of Nature’  concerto places huge demands on the soloist – all of which, like those of its inspiration figure, Ernest Hemingway, were servants to his talents.

Peter Graham’s ‘Force of Nature’  concerto places huge demands on the soloist – all of which, like those of its inspiration figure, Ernest Hemingway, were servants to his talents.

From the adrenaline drama of the opening ‘Matador’,  the refection on the ‘wanderlust’ of his war time years and the thrill of his love of the sea, it was a performance of complete mastery.  

The Besson star returned to add even more sparkle with ‘Endearing Young Charms’  and ‘Hot Canary’  as well as leading the introduction to the final encore ‘Gaelforce’,  which ended with the band finishing in a line across the front of the stage to accept the thunderous applause. 

Leon Matters