The appearance of Brighouse & Rastrick under Professor David King has been one of the highlights of the Festival in recent years, and once again, the West Riding outfit delivered a concert that won't be forgotten in a hurry.
Expectations
Over the course of eighty minutes, the MD held the audience in the palm of his hand as he drew out performances that fully satisfied knowledgeable expectations and desires.
A challenging programme led with an authoritative reading of Fletcher's 'Labour and Love', enhanced by sharp ensemble work and expressive solo contributions from Stuart Lingard, David Thornton and Ryan Watkins.
Lyricism
Principal cornet Stuart Lingard showed that the art of lyricism is not lost in the 'Song', element of Peter Meechan concerto, whilst David Thornton was in sublime form as he whet the appetite for his forthcoming solo CD release with a fabulous rendition of the demanding Curnow 'Symphonic Variants'.
Stand alone
Although Professor King actively encouraged audience applause at the end of each movement of Peter Graham's 'Cat Tales Suite', it was well deserved, whilst he also explained how he was so taken with the second movement of Philip Sparke's 'A Tale as Yet Untold' that he felt it justified being played as a single, stand alone work.
He wasn’t wrong.
The newly named ‘Elegy' was delivered with delightful control and the best pianissimo playing of the whole day, in a performance dedicated to Mrs Muriel Newsome (who was in the audience), in memory of the MD's mentor, and her husband, Roy.
Brass break
An intoxicating ‘brass break’ saw Brighouse's percussion star, Le Yu, mesmerising with his playing on the marimba.
Introduced as playing of an 'improvising nature', the soloist delivered something entirely different both rhythmically and vocally for over six minutes.
Arabic conclusion
With a nod of acknowledgement to the newly crowned British Open Champion, Tredegar, the MD closed with a reprise of the Open test piece, 'Arabian Nights'.
Brighouse delivered a compelling account of Stephen Roberts' roller coaster composition, with a broad, orchestral inspired reading transfixing an audience, the majority of who were certainly hearing it for the first time.
On this evidence they won’t tire of hearing it or Brighouse & Rastrick again either.
Malcolm Wood
