It was Celia Llácer, the RSNO's Assistant Conductor and just one week in to the job, who gave us the pre-concert talk. More than two hundred aspiring conductors worldwide had applied for the post; judging by her enthusiasm and presentational skills it is not surprising Celia was chosen. After giving us a run down of the evening's programme, she introduced to us the composer, librettist and senior tenor of the RSNO's Changed Voices who, each in turn and confidently, told us how the twentieth anniversary celebratory composition You Have to be Realistic About a Perfect Day came about.
For twenty years Frikki Walker has been encouraging boys to continue singing as their voices are changing. The boys comments about a perfect day were brought together by librettist Kate Wakeling and music by Cheryl Frances-Hoad. Both were welcomed on stage by Principal Basoonist David Hubbard. And this was the delightful work we heard the boys sing for us, with the full Orchestra's support, which opened the concert under Thomas Søndergård's baton.
Songs of Travel by Ralph Vaughan Williams was first performed in 1904 in piano version but later orchestrated. It was inspired by verses of Robert Louis Stevenson. We were able to read the nine songs from a screen above the orchestra as they were most beautifully sung by Andreas Landin - whose voice could not have been more appropriate for the work. Absolutely ideal and a joy to hear. Thomas Søndergård, his husband, was conducting the Orchestral accompaniment.
After the interval, and almost as a restart, came the short and cheerful Overture to Son and Stranger by Mendelssohn by way of preparation for the evening's symphony. Thomas Søndergård's Beethoven Symphony No 7 is not new to us but this time it was a crackling performance and more than lived up to our high expectation of Orchestra and Music Director.
I have been reviewing concerts for many years. It is not often, indeed rare, when I can write that each and every component of a concert was totally inspiring and so thoroughly enjoyable.
Event: Friday 7th November 2025 at 7.30pm