Saturday’s concert at St Andrew’s Hall by orchestra of the Academy of St Thomas under their conductor Christopher Adey, began with a thrilling performance of the Fidelio Overture which captured the mood of Beethoven’s dramatic writing, and was a portent of the splendid things to follow.

Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante in E flat K364 is his last, and perhaps his finest string concerto. Who it was written for, no one knows – though it is tempting to think that as he loved playing the viola in chamber music, he may have performed it himself. Violinist Julian Leaper and violist Martin Outram, both members of the Maggini Quartet, were the soloists and from the magical unison opening, their playing was always perfectly matched, elegant in the slow movement, exuberant in the finale; a delight to hear, even in the unforgiving acoustic of St Andrew’s Hall.

The second half proved to be a rare opportunity to hear the whole of the first set pf Dvorak’s Slavonic Dances. Composed originally as a piano duet and orchestrated a year later at the request of his publisher, they rapidly became Dvorak’s first great popular success, and their wonderful melodies and superb orchestration have ensured their continuing popularity. They are magnificent showpieces for orchestra and Adey’s masterful conducting, alive to the music’s every changing moods, often in a single dance and perfect judgement of tempi, were rewarded by superb playing from the orchestra.  I have never heard them play better and the applause said it all.

Frank Cliff – EDP