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Beenham Wind Orchestra blows in with a jolly extravaganza of festive favourites




Beenham Wind Orchestra’s Christmas Extravaganza

at Kennet School, Thatcham,

on Sunday, December 1

Review by FIONA BENNETT

BWO Picture: Fiona Bennett
BWO Picture: Fiona Bennett

’TIS the season to be jolly and what jollier way to begin the countdown to Christmas than with a lovely concert, filled with festive favourites? Conductor Victoria Benjamin was looking every inch the star in her spangled dress and the band revelled in playing all their favourites on Sunday afternoon.

Nigel Hess opened the show and his A Christmas Overture got us all in the mood for what was to be an uplifting couple of hours. Some jaunty piccolo and oboe banter was in evidence and the very clever fugue on We Wish You A Merry Christmas (starting with the bassoons) was great, not to mention the clever use of the band’s sparkling trumpet section, led by Andy Smets.

Our compere, Chris Guy, gave us a well-explained introduction to each piece and after A Vaughan Williams Christmas, we were invited to stand and sing Away In A Manger.

A potted arrangement of the ever-popular Nutcracker Suite followed and we all enjoyed hearing our favourite Christmas ballet tunes played so well. Some lovely piccolo playing by Laura Braithwaite in the Chinese Dance.

The first half closed with a brilliant arrangement of Christmas melodies by David Lovrien, all transposed from major to minor keys and set in the style of famous minor-key orchestral pieces.

We were asked to see how many we could identify and the woman behind me got very excited when she recognised The Ride of the Valkyries and began singing it rather loudly!

Three huge festive hampers were on offer in the very well supported raffle and we all enjoyed a mince pie during the interval.

A second half highlight was the fabulous piece Aurora Borealis by Rossano Galante. Almost John Williams in style at times, it really brought the house down with its huge sweeping melodies and lush arrangement.

Jeanie Murrow’s Last Silent Noel is dedicated to her parents who both loved Christmas. Their two favourites, Silent Night and The First Noel, are cleverly woven together to create this thought-provoking piece which was a timely reminder to cherish the important people in our lives.

There is no mistaking the opening of Prokofiev’s Trioka from the 1934 film Lieutenant Kijé and the brass and horns gave it their all. It’s not difficult to imagine being pulled along in a three-horse drawn sleigh, across the snowy landscapes of the composer’s homeland.

The programme was generously long, but we eventually piled out into the dark December evening feeling suitably smiley and festive.

BWO fans will be delighted to know they are performing again on Sunday (December 8) at 4.30pm in St John’s Church. Tickets are available from https://www.ceciliaconsort.org.uk/events

I’ll be there!



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