Hail to the magnificent Halle

“Classical Spectacular,” Manchester Arena, by Marina Berry

Spectacular by name, and spectacular by nature. Saturday’s virtual sell-out show was a showstopper from start to finish.

The world-famous Halle Orchestra launched into a programme of popular classics with a fantastic performance of Strauss’s “Sunrise.”

The 20 pieces chosen to dazzle the audience came from opera, dance, and special occasions. And that wasn’t the only dazzling part of the night — a superb laser show mixed with leaping flames and sparkling fireworks made the event truly spectacular.

Conductor John Rigby led the razor sharp Halle as they played some of the best-known pieces from composers ranging from Handel and Braums to Bizet and Gershwin.

The Leeds Festival Chorus leant its fabulous voice to the evening, and tenor John Hudson and baritone David Kempster did a wonderful job.

A classical spectacular could not pass without its fair share of clapping and flag-waving, and the audience were whipped into a patriotic frenzy with “Jerusalem,” “Pomp and Circumstance” and “Rule, Britannia!” with shouts of “more” rewarded by encores.

A real treat came with a solo piece from Manchester pianist Jonathan Scott.

And the show ended with yet another spectacle, the firing of cannons and muskets by the Moscow Militia as a booming climax to Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture.

MB