Concert reviews
Sentinel review of 26th Jan 2008 Concert
The official year of celebration may have been 2007 but with a programme dominated by his music, the North Staffs Symphony Orchestra proved there's still time to pay homage to the 150th anniversary of the birth of Sir Edward Elgar.Performing a concert of English music at St John Fisher High School, Newcastle, on Saturday night, the orchestra, led by Sheila Dexter and under the musical direction of Peter Stallworthy, chose an interesting mix of pieces starting with the composer's concert overture Froissart and concluding with his popular Enigma Variations. Froissart was a great opening piece for the orchestra to play and really got the concert off to a positive start.Introducing soloist Geoffrey Smith, Finzi's Clarinet Concerto was second on the programme, taking us briefly away from Elgar who would later fill the second half. Modern and impressive in terms of notation, this work (for clarinet and string orchestra) moved the players away from the familiar and with it came signs that perhaps they were a little out of their depth, which was a shame. The orchestra produced a wonderful rousing sound during the final piece, especially with the famous Nimrod variation, and managed to end the concert in the positive and enjoyable manner in which it began.
Sentinel review of 4th April 2006 Concert
Thankfully for the people of Staffordshire, soprano Denise Leigh never lost sight of her roots after winning the English Natioanal Opera / Channel 4 reality TV show Operatunity, and her appearance alongside the North Staffordshire Symphony Orchestra at Stoke's Jubilee Hall on saturday proved this. She has, since winning the show which searched to find a new young opera star, appeared on many of the country's most glamorous stages with some of our most prestigious orchestras - a fact that made last night even more special for the admirers who had turned up to see her. Wearing a stunningly deep-red dress, Denise carried an air of modesty that instantly draws you to her as she sang songs by Richard Strauss. The most attractive element, however was that there was no 'prima donna' on show, all that was there was a truly beautiful voice. The five Strauss songs that Denise sang, highlighting the composers love for the soprano voice, were sandwiched between two mighty orchestral pieces by Johannes Brahms: the Acedemic Festival Overture and the powerful Symphony No.2 in D major.Under conductor Peter Stallworthy, the orchestra developed in strength throughout the evening, playing Brahm's difficult works with dynamism and enthusiasm. The former, a piece to complement the composer's Tragic Overture, was a perfect way to open the concert, its lively and energetic themes bouncing throughout the hall, while the latter, (a difficult piece to attempt), filled the second half well as familiar melodies, such as the famous cradle song, shone through.
Liz Rowley (Sentinel 6th April, 2006 - supplied courtesy of The Sentinel)
On 11th June 2005, the NSSO performed its Centenery Concert at the Victoria Hall, Hanley . The following is a review of the concert by Eric Snape of the Sentinel newspaper
The Spirit of Sir Edward Elgar frequently haunts Hanley's Victoria Hall, and it was entirely fitting that it should have been so memorably evoked as it was on Saturday night. The occaision was the Centenary concert of the NSSO, and the work by Elgar performed was the one he himself considered his best – the cello concerto. The soloist as Madeley's Tim Hugh, who is now known as one of the best cellists in Europe. The result was a revelation. Tim's interpretation of this marvellously emotional music was mesmerising. There was virtuosity there, but more than that – there was an intensity of feeling for the sadness, tenderness and fire of the piece that could hardly have been rivalled. It was all balanced perfectly – the heart rending thematic mix of the first movement, the exuberant bustle of the scherzo, the fragile warmth and beauty of the adagio, and the nostalgic reprise of the finale. Only a master could have achieved it. Conductor Peter Stallworthy and the orchestra seemed inspired, especially the strings , for this was a definitive reading of the Elgar Cello Concert, as all those fortunate to have heard it must have known. Joined by organist Eddie Hewison, the orchestra later went thoroughly rhapsodic and romatic in Saint-Saens Symphony No 3 in C minor (called “Organ” for obvious reasons) , and a pleasantly exhilarating experience it turned out to be as Eddie underpinned the sonority of the strings and went on to produce a thunderous entry into the finale. The concert had begun with Overture Culture Clash by Simon Lesley, visiting lecturer in composition at Birmingham Conservatoire and at the University of Birmingham. Commissioned by Making Music to celebrate the NSSO Centenary and having its world premier, it was a mix of folk tunes, Methodism, rock and cerebral modernism. Listeners received it with polite enthusiasm.
Thanks to everyone past and present who helped make our Centenary concert such a special occaision