Flags at the ready but little to cheer
Reporter: Marina Berry
Date published: 27 July 2009
Last Night of the Halle Proms, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester,
THE programme of last night’s concert seemed an unusual choice for a proms concert.
I had been expecting lots of patriotism and hale and hearty favourites to come pounding from the stage. And although much of the music was familiar, some of it failed to hit the mark.
Aided by the powerful voice of Irish soprano Ailish Tynan, the first half explored pieces from Verdi, Handel Bizet and Tchaikovsky.
Conductor David Parry, who has a pedigree as long as the arms he flailed in his inimitable way, promised a “chocolate box of delights,” and said that after the opening piece, the overture from “La Forza Del Destino” or “The Power Of Fate” — the concert would be made up of joyful pieces.
But that didn’t quite transpire, with much of the music fairly subdued as we wound our way through Manchester’s never-ending roadworks with flags at the ready, for the last of the Halle’s Promenade concerts which have stretched out over the last two months.
The second half began with Mendelssohn’s “Hebrides (Fingal’s Cave) Overture” followed by excerpts from two Gilbert and Sullivan classics, “The Mikado” and “HMS Pinafore.”
But it was only towards the end of the next piece, “Fantasia on British Sea Songs” that the hand-clapping, foot-tapping and flag-waving began.
A couple of notes from the hugely popular “Sailor’s Hornpipe” was all it took to unleash the audience from its quiet appreciation.
And the night did end on a rousing note, with the obligatory “Rule, Britannia,” “Jerusalem” and “Pomp and Circumstance,” which brought everyone to their feet.
The Halle Orchestra, as usual, put on a polished performance under Parry’s baton, which injected some humour into the evening with a clarinet solo medley towards the end.
That was the last chance to catch a summer promenade concert this year, but there is plenty of opportunity to see this immensely talented and entertaining group of musicians who perform regularly throughout the year at the Bridgewater Hall.
