EUMS: Sinfonia

In the first of this year’s Music Society concerts, we have the honour of welcoming Sinfonia’s new conductor Nick Fletcher to the podium. This evening offers a diverse programme of the Romantic from Antonín Dvorák, and some welcome 20^th century works in the form of Edward Harper and George Butterworth. The programme carries across very well in a relatively short but confidently-executed concert.

Our first work comes from ex-Edinburgh University lecturer Edward Harper. The piece demonstrates the modern styles that Harper championed so passionately when he worked in the university’s music department. The opening sees commendable security from the strings and a well balanced overall sound. Elsewhere in the work, each section shows coherence and a variety of colours. Such unity isn’t always maintained, but nevertheless the work is portrayed in an engaging manner. Next is George Butterworth’s A Shropshire Lad, Butterworth’s own orchestration of his song cycle for voice and piano. A good balance is established across the entire ensemble and Fletcher demonstrates an engaging command of the orchestra. For an ensemble which doesn’t audition their strings, they often produce a fabulous sound, balancing well as a full section.

The second half brings Dvorák’s 8th Symphony. The work is played with great depth and character. The cellos in particular are beautifully in tune and united in their exposed sections. Among the winds, occasional mistakes are unimportant since vibrant solos are heard from flute, clarinet and oboe. The brass are given their time to shine and do so with conviction, maintaining a good dynamic throughout their solo passages. By the third and fourth movements the ensemble have really found their feet and Fletcher relishes in the developing performance. The closing bars really make the evening with their combined energy and vigour, promising the audience a good year to come from the Music Society.