It was a joy to see the Hampshire County Youth Orchestra ensembles return to live performance after almost two years of Covid-19 constraints.
HCYO Brass Ensemble
The concert opened with an ensemble of Hampshire County Youth Orchestra brass, conducted by Connor Lyster playing a sprightly Wie will ich mich freuen by Johann Sebastian Bach (arranged by Jock McKenzie).
Hampshire County Youth String Orchestra
We were then treated to a delightful programme of short pieces from the Hampshire County Youth String Orchestra, conducted by Brian Lloyd-Wilson; Little Suite for Strings by Peter Martin; Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming by Michael Praetorius (arranged by Matthew Naughtin and Mykola Leontovych), Carol of the Bells and Christmas Medley (both arranged by Matthew Naughtin).
Hampshire Youth Percussion Ensemble
A revived Hampshire Youth Percussion Ensemble, conducted by Connor Lyster, played an invigorating piece called A La Naniga by Mitchel Peters.
Hampshire String Quartet
The Hampshire String Quartet dazzled us with the 1st Movement of Mozart’s Divertimento in D Major K136/125a, written in Salzburg when he was a mere 16.
Hampshire County Youth Chamber Orchestra
Hampshire County Youth Chamber Orchestra then took us up to the interval with the entrancing Ballet Suite by Jean-Philippe Rameau. This showed students using ‘historically informed practice’ with natural trumpets, wooden timpani sticks and baroque string bows.
Hampshire County Youth Orchestra
Following the interval Hampshire County Youth Orchestra performed A Flourish for Orchestra by Malcolm Arnold. The year 2021 marked the centenary of Malcolm Arnold’s birth. This was conducted by Connor Lyster.
The evening ended in dramatic style with Carl Clausen conducting Polovtsian Dances from Prince Igor by Alexander Borodin. (See video here)
