2 February 2008 at 7.30pm

Mark Simpson (clarinet)

Conductor: Brian Wright

 If at their previous concert in December the Maidstone Symphony Orchestra had concentrated on Germanic heavyweights the programme last Saturday, given under the direction of their conductor Brian Wright, was of a much more "audience friendly" v ariety, though as we have come to expect form this enterprising orchestra, a programme no less challenging for the players.

 The concert began with the suite from Bizet’s "Carmen", which gave many opportunities for solo contributions from members of the orchestra, including in the fifth movement offstage trumpet fanfares from Darren Moore. The six movements proved a fine showcase for the orchestra, their relaxed musicality in the more lyrical episodes and precision of ensemble during the livelier movements.

 BBC Young Musician of the Year, Mark Simpson, joined the orchestra for Weber’s 2nd Clarinet Concerto, a dazzling virtuoso display that had the audience spellbound. In addition the dynamic in the second movement was reduced to a mere whisper and Mark’s magical soft playing was matched with great sensitivity in the orchestral accompaniment, the effect was spine tingling. The pyrotechnics of the "alla Polocca" finale return to Weber’s virtuoso style, with more than a hint of the operatic in the effects. Following some stratospherically high notes at the end from the soloist the audience’s thunderous applause broke in before the final chord of the work had finished.

 The concert ended with Rachmaninov’s mighty 2nd Symphony. This work, a very moody Russian mix of brooding darkness and crashing high spirits, contains one of the composer’s trademark melodies – a luxuriant tune in the Adagio, and I am sure I am not the only member of the audience to have driven home with this theme revolving around my mind. The ebb and flow of the music was well captured in this performance and the transparent orchestral balance allowed the solo contribution from the leader (Philip Lee) to shine through, plus audible details in Rachmaninov’s score with his use of additional instruments, such as the cor anglaise and bass clarinet.

 Maidstone has a regional orchestra of which it can be proud and, given the large audience at this concert, an increasing number of people are aware of the fact!

Review by Duncan Lord

Click here to listen to a clip.

Mark Simpson won the BBC Young Musician of the Year in 2006. He plays Principal Clarinet in the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. He is a gifted composer who has been commissioned by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain  to write his first orchestral piece for 2008. He has played at the last night of the proms in 2006