Usually I'm playing in NCO so to attend a concert as an audience member is to sit out and look in and I was mightily impressed. NCO has grown of late, so 16vl1,14vln2,10clo,6bs. Six basses, with 2 new names I'd not met. The format was pretty standard, so a fanfare, a concerto, an interval, a symphony, but they were all hugely impressive works, often challenging, often popular and familiar. First up was Natalie Williams Sonic Boom, a fanfare, raucous, loud, inviting, huge fun, with Natalie in the audience. Then Mendelssohn with his violin concerto that is familiar as all out, delightful and pretty and a hugely successful work. Mia Stanton played that one with panache: Canberra girl returning home for a gig. Then Saint-Saens Symphony no.3 Cmin, known as the Organ symphony, with organ (obviously) and four handed piano and some very demanding quick lines for the basses, several octaves up or down the neck. The organ was a bit quiet but the presence was there in key passages. I didn't know this one, although I did recognise some melodies. I stopped to consider a while. Louis has brought this orchestra to big dimensions and impressive in capability not just volume. They no longer fit easily on the Snow stage; it's a growth to admire, impressive in development and quality. But Canberra is like that: a town of significant capabilities. Congrats to Louis, Mia and all.
National Capital Orchestra performed Natalie Williams, Mendelssohn and Saint-Saens under Louis Sharpe (musical director) with soloist Mia Stanton (violin) at Snow Concert Hall.
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