Gannochy Trust 75th Anniversary Concert, Perth Concert Hall

Classical music writer

Monday 18 June 2012

THERE are a number of observations that ought to be recorded about the concert celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Gannochy Trust, featuring the RSNO and a series of Perth's musical luminaries on Saturday night.

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Michael Tumelty

The first is that, simply, it was a major event, highlighting the unstinting support of this great trust, without which there would probably be no Perth Concert Hall, all that goes on in it and all that it stands for on Scotland's musical scene. There should be a hall of fame to the towering supporters of Scotland's music sponsors and champions. The Gannochy Trust would be in the premier league.

The second observation is that the quality of musicianship from Perth Youth Orchestra players was outstanding. Side-by-sides between professional and non-professional (or student) players are common these days. The Gannochy anniversary show, in this respect, was the real thing: cutting-edge; players from Perth Youth Orchestra, mentored by RSNO players, took all the principal parts, all the major solos, in extracts from Bizet's Carmen, featuring superb Perth-born mezzo Rowan Hellier in the title role. Their achievement was astonishing.Somewhat less than astonishing, however, was the second-half performance of Rachmaninov's Second Piano Concerto, with Alasdair Beatson, Christian Kluxen and the RSNO. I stand second to none in my admiration of Beatson as chamber music pianist. But something didn't work here. He was fluid and expressive, but why were there so many instances in the concerto where band and soloist were obviously not together, with the orchestra jarringly behind the beat? Beats me why they couldn't get it together.HHH

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Gannochy Trust 75th Anniversary Concert, Perth Concert Hall

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