Mid Wales has its first very-own orchestra
On 15 May, Theatr Brecheiniog hosted the inaugural concert of Mid Wales Chamber Orchestra. This very welcome newcomer to the Powys arts community comes from the initiative of James and Catrin Slater, and they are to be congratulated on their success in bringing what must have seemed a daunting project to vibrant life. Funding was acquired from a number of grant givers, including the Powys County Council/Powys Arts Forum initiative Chance to Create/Cefl i Greu.
Though all the regions of Powys are rich in music, a full chamber orchestra is something unique, and the quality of its work was evident at their first full concert. A very engaging and well-balanced programme was enjoyed by the full audience. The energy and wit of Prokofiev's "Classical" symphony was followed by a very new work, Huw Watkins's "Three Welsh Songs for String Orchestra, written in 2009, in which familiar traditional songs emerged from new settings, affording the pleasure of hearing them with a new appreciation.
After the interval, the orchestra's leader, Marcia Crayford was the soloist in Vaughan Williams romance, The Lark Ascending, with its hold-your-breath closing passage played with exquisite subtlety and an orchestral control and sensitivity which (if it becomes the hallmark of this orchestra) promises much joy for future audiences. As did the closing work, Mozart's symphony no. 41 in C major, "Jupiter": energy, total commitment and confident phrasing from a group of musicians (under the baton of James Slater - how lucky we are to have a resident conductor of such quality) who were obviously enjoying the playing as much as we were enjoying the listening.
The orchestra and its musicians are planning a full engagement with the community of Powys, through soloist appearances in smaller venues as well as full concerts, and outreach work in schools has already begun. Their base will be in Brecon, but all of us who welcome the birth of this new orchestra hope to see them further afield, throughout the county. More about the orchestra, and its plans, can be found on their website, www.mwco.co.uk
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