Classic's For Spring @ Birmingham Symphony Hall

Last month I attended a concert at Birmingham Symphony Hall titled 'Classics for Spring' and performed by the London Concert Orchestra, conducted by Anthony Inglis. The concert also featured two soloists: Thomas Gould on violin, and Jonathan Scott on piano. The performance consisted of an array of pieces evocative of spring-time, however on the day the ground was covered in snow! Nonetheless the performance was excellent, and I thoroughly enjoyed hearing some fantastic and familiar pieces of music. This was in fact my first full orchestral concert, as the concerts I've attended in the past have consisted of solo instruments or chamber ensembles.

The pieces performed were:

Rossini - Barber of Seville Overture
Handel - Water Music Suites - Overture / Air / Alla Hornpipe
Vaughan Williams - The Lark Ascending
Gershwin - Rhapsody in Blue
Tchaikovsky - Capriccio Italien
Bizet - Carmen Suite
Massenet - Meditation from Thais
Ravel - Bolero

I enjoyed each piece of music, and appreciated the fact that the selection chosen was from a broad range of eras. A particular highlight for me was Rhapsody in Blue, as I've become familiar with the piece during my study of Gershwin's works earlier in the course. Seeing it played live was an exhilarating experience, and really allowed the character of the music to come through.

Another piece I had previously looked at in some detail during this course was Bolero. I was able to take the knowledge I had gained from my studies and see it unfold on stage. This was also a great opportunity to hear the various orchestral timbres in a live setting.

I will be attending another concert as soon as something suitable becomes available, and circumstances permit it. The symphony hall is a favourite venue of mine, but I am also looking for other relatively local venues to visit.