The final attraction of the opening day of events at the Ty Cerdd Conference in Cardiff was the concert given by the National Champion alongside their welcome guests from Trondheim in Norway.

Polished

It made for an enjoyable evening, with an engaging balance in contrast between Cory’s polished relaxation and the eager enthusiasm of Nidaross Brass, although the only down side was a very poor audience turn out; the lack of advertising through the Millennium Centre’s own usually slick marketing operation perhaps accounting for the lack of punters. 

Unfortunately, it did make for a missed opportunity (as was the unfortunate mix up over Howard Snell’s proposed conducting appearance) although the bands certainly didn’t allow it to tarnish their performances.

Diaphanous

With the diaphanous compere Beverley Humphreys welcoming Nidaross to the stage, Geir Ulseth led the Norwegians through a first half set that had a distinctive Nordic musical taste; featuring the likes of Torstein Aagaard-Nilsen’s bold ‘Introduction’, the bucolic ‘I Himmelen’ (In Heaven) featuring Mette Stene Ertsgaard on flugel and Reid Gilje’s arrangement of ‘Hercab’ with the splendid Karen Riis on bass trombone.

Cory’s audience friendly repertoire saw soloists Chris Thomas, Tom Hutchison and Owen Farr on the classiest of form, whilst Philip Harper loosened the ensemble leash to allow a subtle flexing of the muscles on the likes of the opening ‘Sound the Bells’.

Taste boost

The lollipop joint items also left sugar induced taste boost, with Geir Ulseth showing off his playing (and acting) skills with a rumbustious run through ‘Czardas’ before the evening was rounded off with a roof raising march down the ‘Appian Way’.

It was a pity there were not more people in the hall to enjoy it.  

Iwan Fox