Airedale Symphony Orchestra

Airedale Symphony Orchestra conductor, John Anderson, was keen to point out that his 53rd Birthday coincided with this concert. Perhaps that auspicious event was the reason for a certain brio to the orchestra's playing of Rimsky Korsakov's Capriccio Espagnol. The performance was brimming with rhythmic energy and rich in instrumental colouring. I particularly liked the fruity brass and such telling details as the snare-drum diminuendo - the precise opposite of the arduous task awaiting the players of this instrument in Ravel's Bolero. Anderson duly whipped up the tempo to bring the Capriccio to an exciting conclusion.
Sandwiched between Rimsky and Ravel, the muted orchestral colours of Vaughan Williams' Fantasia on Greensleeves provided a veritable oasis of tranquility. Some lovely individual contributions included Oliver Wiggins' plaintive flute rendition of the traditional theme, and gossamer-like harp textures from Georgina Wells.

Extra players filled the stage to meet the massive orchestral requirements for Bolero; one of those pieces of which everyone feels they know all the notes - or rather the same few notes repeated with increasing volume for 15 minutes or so. Anderson positioned the snare drums in a balcony box to prevent their insistent beat being submerged by a tidal wave of orchestral textures. Although sounding slightly echoey from on high, the effect was even more spectacular, creating a "surround sound" - but without detracting from the expressive solos for flute (Wiggins again) and bassoon which open the piece. The conductor carefully ratcheted up the decibel level - and the tension, until the music found its resolution in those orgiastic final bars.
The second half was devoted to just one work: Symphony No 2 in B minor of Alexander Borodin, whose full time job as a professor of Chemistry in St Petersburg cannot have left much time for musical composition. This Borodin symphony is a tuneful work and easy on the ear, but whose rhythmic contrasts and tempo changes pose big challenges for orchestral musicians. The challenges are not however insurmountable, as this performance by the ASO amply demonstrated. There was a momentum and buoyancy to the outer movements, whilst the intense lyricism of the symphony's Andante was beautifully finessed.

In his preview of next season's ASO concerts at the King's Hall, John Anderson expressed disappointment that the orchestra could not afford to programme any piano concertos for the foreseeable future. This, he explained, is due to the non-negotiatable charge of £400 now levied by Bradford Council for hiring the King's Hall piano - an amount currently beyond the orchestra's resources. Let us hope that the Council can see their way to accommodate what is in effect Ilkley's resident orchestra. Meanwhile, the 14th November's enticing concert consists of Vaughan Williams' Overture The Wasps, Canteloube's Songs of the Auvergne and Mahler's Symphony No 4 - soprano soloist to be announced later.
Geoffrey Mogridge, Ilkley Gazette and Wharfedale & Airedale Observer.