Orchestral manouevres

I’m not sure how many people go along and support local orchestras but more people should try it.

The musicians may be amateur but they are excellent and it’s a very affordable way to enjoy live classical music.

The price of a ticket to Gloucestershire Symphony Orchestra at St Barnabas Church, Gloucester tonight was a tenner for adults and only £1 for under 19 year olds.  Although the evening was well-attended, the church wasn’t full.

So an excellent evening of Borodin, Tchaikovsky and a Russian composer who was new to me,  was a bargain!

My pal from the violin section reckons Alexandr Glazunov is worthy of more attention. Glazunov was a student of Rimsky-Korsakov and admired Tchaikovsky. He was only sixteen when he showcased his first symphony and 35 years old when he completed The Seasons, music for ballet, which we heard performed tonight.

The landscape to autumn section was the only section that was vaguely familiar but I recommend the entire work, which features particularly lovely sections for the harp.

Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No 5 was an emotional blast which the orchestra seemed to revel in. Certainly conductor Glyn Oxley was at his most animated.

So here’s Glazunov’s dance from The Seasons ‘Autumn’ — which used to be danced by Pavlova!