MARKING the end of this year's Proms, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, with special guests, presented a wonderfully diverse and eclectic programme of classical favourites, contemporary folk and musical theatre hits at Glasgow Green on Saturday night.
Opening with the overture to Glinka's Ruslan And Ludmilla, the orchestra at once unleashed their zeal and intensity under the slick baton of conductor Stephen Bell.
Welcoming the first of their guests, presenters Jamie MacDougall and Susan Calman introduced former Spice Girl Melanie C to the stage. Wearing an elegant, black dress, a far cry from the tracksuit/scrunchie combo of her Sporty Spice era, Melanie gave a hugely engaging rendition of I Don't Know How To Love Him from Lloyd Webber's classic musical Jesus Christ Superstar. Joining forces with musical theatre star Alfie Boe, their duet, Dimming Of The Day, had a relaxed, almost countrified feel and was sung with tender emotion.
A duet from a more classical angle, Brindisi from Verdi's La Traviata was given a light-hearted take by Scottish stars more usually seen on the operatic stage, Nicky Spence and Kate Valentine, with their powerful tones soaring above the orchestra.
Another guest, former BBC Young Musician of the Year, violinist Jennifer Pike, played Kreisler's Tambourin Chinois with a dignified passion and displayed a tremendous juxtaposition of artistic flair and humility.
However, with or without guests, the true driving force behind this concert was indeed the orchestra. Exhibiting artistic excellence as well as deft versatility, the BBC SSO shone both on its own, and when accompanying opera singers, Scottish traditional musicians, West End stars, or a group of folk singing along to Loch Lomond on Glasgow Green.
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