Packed audience, in the presence of the Duke of Kent, enjoy enthralling Newbury Spring Festival concert by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Newbury Spring Festival: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conductor Martin Brabbins, Johan Darlene violin
at St Nicolas Church, Newbury
on Saturday, May 19
Review by JULIA ROWNTREE
NEWBURY Spring Festival 2025 has been blessed with unusually sunny weather which has lifted everyone’s spirits!
As has the quality of the performances so far in the fortnight celebration of music which has become an integral part of Newbury cultural life.
A packed audience, honoured by the presence of the Duke of Kent, the festival patron, attended an enthralling concert on the mid-Saturday concert of Newbury Spring Festival.
The RPO, under Martin Brabbins, began with Egmont Overture and from the opening, dramatic, Beethovenian chords and contrasting wind solos the listeners felt secure. Ensemble was taut, balance of accompaniment to solo lines was superbly judged and the violin tone was singing.
Johan Dalene was the astounding soloist in Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor. From the opening sweet, pleading phrases of the solo violin, the audience was aware of the calibre of the player.
This is special talent combining technical brilliance with musical integrity.
His huge palette of tonal colours and enormous dynamic range helped to create a breathtaking performance.
The seamless legato cantabile of the slow movement was unusually beautiful.
There were moments when, in the sheer excitement of driving the fast sections forward, the ensemble between the orchestra and the soloist was disturbed but this did not detract from the overall experience.
The audience demanded a solo encore and were treated to a virtuosic performance of a technically very demanding movement of a sonata movement by Ysaye. Wow!
After the interval, the orchestra played Beethoven’s 7th Symphony superbly.
Brabbins sculpted and moulded the tender phrases with loving care,but allowed the heroic patriotism to burst forth while looking after the composer’s unusual harmonic shifts, sudden outbursts of sforzandi and changes of mood with intimate care.
Each movement was crafted and shaped as was the overall shape of the whole symphony. This was a memorable performance.
The audience left on a musical and spiritual ‘high’, knowing that their trust in orchestral performance in this country is secure.
