A fine performance of music representing four countries and several styles, mainly from the 19th century, was given at a concert presented by the Loughborough Orchestra under their director, Trevor Lax, on Saturday 25th June at Barrow Parish Church.

The concert opened with a rousing performance of Dvorak’s Slavonic Dance in G minor, Op. 46 No. 8. The orchestra clearly enjoyed playing this dramatic piece with its alternating modes and rhythms. This lovely Czech piece was followed by the Pavane pour une Infante Défunte by Ravel. The orchestra played the composer’s orchestration of his original piano solo with sensitivity and style.

It was then the turn of the young soloist, Sara Hall, to demonstrate her excellent fingering technique on her clarinet. She gave a very confident and dynamic performance of Weber’s first clarinet concerto in F minor, clearly enjoying every note. It had been composed as a show piece for Weber’s outstanding clarinettist friend; Sara and the orchestra together gave a fine performance making the most of the varying speeds, rhythms and moods. The audience definitely enjoyed it as much as the musicians.

The first half of the programme ended with the well known symphonic poem, “Dance Macabre”, composed by Saint-Saëns. The lead violinist’s exciting playing of the opening of this piece encouraged all sections of the orchestra to continue in this vein, and Trevor Lax’s enthusiastic conducting conveyed to the audience the musical picture Saint-Saëns wished them to see.

After the interval we enjoyed the final piece of the evening, Tchaikovsky’s second symphony in C minor “Little Russian”, so called because it had been composed around three lovely Ukrainian folk songs.Tchaikovsky’s second symphony is not as frequently performed as his more well known later ones, which is a pity, as it is full of beautiful tunes. Trevor Lax set down the challenge announcing after the interval that he wanted the orchestra to “play more Tchaikovsky” and they responded by giving an excellent performance.