Summer 2013 Concert

Some friends whose daughter plays in this orchestra took me to this concert. They considered I would be particularly interested in the ‘cello Concerto since half my career was as a peripatetic 'cello teacher.

From the first few bars I recognized that the orchestral playing and conducting were of a very high standard and I greatly enjoyed them perform the first work which was totally new to me: ‘Overture to an Unwritten Tragedy’ by Parry. I later appreciated a performance of Brahms' 2nd Symphony, a work I’ve enjoyed for a long time.

I must admit that the performance of the Elgar 'cello concerto I enjoyed best. I know the work very well and I was in the best seat in the church for watching the cellist Adi Tal. Sticking my neck out a bit, I think that not every good pianist necessarily makes a good accompanist and likewise not every good conductor and orchestra achieve a good ensemble and balance with a concerto soloist (or concerto soloists). Jerry Lanning did and the performances from orchestra and soloist were spellbinding.

In the programme notes for the concert I read that Adi Tal was a winner of the Muriel Taylor 'Cello Prize and after the performance I went to tell Adi how much I’d enjoyed the performance of the Elgar and that Muriel Taylor was my 'cello teacher at the Royal Academy of Music over half a century ago - Adi was interested to hear that and said it was the first time she’d met anyone who had told her that he/she'd been taught by Muriel Taylor. The Elgar really was an inspired performance and the personal connections special too.

I shall remember and treasure the memory of this concert. Thank you Adi Tal and Jerry Lanning and the orchestra.