Night At The Welsh Proms
Fri 18 July saw St David's Hall open its doors to a night of entertainment under the heading Best Of The Romantics, and that is exactly what it delivered.
The featured orchestra for the night, the BBC National Orchestra Of Wales conducted by Owen Arwel Hughes, performed magnificently, bringing out the very best of a well chosen programme. Of the four pieces played it has to be said that pianist Angela Hewitt's performance of Mozart's 23rd Piano Concerto in A Major shone through it all, with her incredibly emotive and expressive style of playing. Truly does she compose a story around the music and bring it to life before her audience. This is not to say that the BBC National Orchestra failed to hold its own. After opening the night with the very powerful and provocative Overture from La Forza Del Destino by Verdi, the orchestra continued to provide the highest quality of performance while accompanying Hewitt, finding with apparent ease that often illusive balance between supporting and, in some unfortunate cases, overpowering the soloist. However, tonight there was no such fear of that happening, and the two sounds complimented each other perfectly.
The night finished in the spirit in which it began with the powerful and very moving Rachmaninov's 2nd Symphony In E Minor, and this proved to be the perfect conclusion to a well orchestrated night. As the audience left the hall, the only sounds remaining after the roar of applause were that of satisfaction.
DAVID HEYMAN (Youth Editorial Group) Angela Hewitt's website is HERE
