STEPHEN FROST WORLD PREMIERE PIECE DELIGHTS AUDIENCE
Woking Symphony Orchestra presented the World Premiere of a new Overture by British Composer
Stephen Frost on Saturday (18th June 2011) at their summer concert. This piece, written as a
commission specially for the orchestra, was entitled “Passelande” (the name of King Arthur’s horse)
and represents moods and images of Arthurian legend ; the majesty of the horse, the preparation
for battle, the battle itself, the joy of victory, and so on. The piece – melodic, rhythmic and both
intensely beautiful and very exciting by turns – was extremely well received and in some quarters
attracted favourable comparisons with important composers such as Vaughan Williams, Gustav
Holst and Leonard Bernstein. Stephen Frost, who has other major compositions to his credit
already recorded on the Chandos and Signum record labels, has added another memorable piece
to his portfolio, which was ably presented by Woking Symphony Orchestra in a spirited and very
competent performance.
Other components of this concert were Weber’s Clarinet Concerto No. 2 – which was brilliantly
performed by Devonshire clarinettist, Victoria Cornet, whose virtuosic mastery of her instrument
in this extremely difficult clarinet showpiece earned her a very well-deserved accolade from the
orchestra and audience alike – and the Pastoral Symphony (No. 6) by Beethoven, which made up
the second half of the programme. Woking Symphony Orchestra produced a sensitive and beautiful
performance of this well-loved work.
All in all it was an excellent concert, which was a credit to Conductor, Roy Stratford, and all involved.
--- Daniel Milton
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