Australian Youth Orchestra Shines in Concert for Summer Music '94

The Australian Youth Orchestra delivered a well-devised program at the Concert Hall, featuring three substantial works that showcased the virtuosity of the ensemble. The program included Bartok's orchestral suite from "The Miraculous Mandarin," Prokofiev's First Piano Concerto, and Brenton Broadstock's "A Festive Overture." The orchestra's heroic playing, with splendid ensemble and spikily energetic sound, brought the concert to a thunderous close.

Key Takeaways:

• The Australian Youth Orchestra performed a well-devised program at the Concert Hall, featuring Bartok's orchestral suite from "The Miraculous Mandarin" and Prokofiev's First Piano Concerto.
• The orchestra's orchestral playing was heroic, with splendid ensemble and spikily energetic sound, particularly in the percussion, brass, and woodwind sections.
• Duncan Gifford, the solo pianist, handled the percussive and metallic solo line with discretion and brought a fine gentleness of touch to the more lyrical moments of the concerto.
• Prokofiev's First Piano Concerto was scored with precision, exposing the instruments to harsh scrutiny, but the orchestra's work was splendid and accurate, with a dancing quality that brought the music to life.
• Brenton Broadstock's "A Festive Overture" was episodic, genial, and wholesome, but perhaps a bit long for the audience.
• David Alan Miller, the conductor, showed fine conducting skills, but has yet to learn the sound of the Concert Hall.

Statistics:

• The Australian Youth Orchestra performed three substantial works that showcased their virtuosity.
• The concert featured Bartok's orchestral suite from "The Miraculous Mandarin," Prokofiev's First Piano Concerto, and Brenton Broadstock's "A Festive Overture."
• The orchestra's sound was described as "spikily energetic and positive" in the percussion, brass, and woodwind sections.
• The orchestra will give a second concert next Sunday, with Miller again conducting and Adele Anthony as soloist in the Violin Concerto of Sibelius, and the Twelfth Symphony of Shostakovitch.

Sources:

• Kenneth Hince, Australian Youth Orchestra in Concert for Summer Music '94, Sunday, Concert Hall.