Published: Tuesday, 9th February, 2010 9:00am

Review: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at The Hexagon, Sunday, January 24

by Barrie Theobald

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A LARGE and appreciative audience greeted the first concert in the Classical Music Alive series at The Hexagon - and what an enjoyable evening.

The orchestra responding magnificently to the positive lead given by their conductor Garry Walker, whose passion and delight with the music was clear to us all as he literally danced his way through some of the movements.

Three excerpts from the incidental music composed by Mendelssohn's A Midsummer Night's Dream opened the evening.

The brisk pace of the Overture contrasted well with the more passive tones of the Nocturn before a pleasurable interpretation of the full score of Wedding March, these days usually only heard as a brief musical accompaniment at wedding ceremonies.

Renown clarinettist Emma Johnson delighted with her rendition of Mozart's Clarinet Concerto in A Major. All three movements were skilfully and effortlessly performed, especially the frequent musical leaps between the upper and lower registers.

The concert concluded with a superb interpretation of Dvorak's Symphony No 8 in G Major.

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is back at The Hexagon on Thursday, April 15.

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