Romantic Period orchestral music is popular for its drama, programmatic and literary references and exciting climaxes. This style of music is often present at Balmain Sinfonia concerts. Its recent programme did not disappoint the loyal followers of this orchestra in this regard. Lovers of nineteenth century music were well catered for and the music from this era was arguably the highlight of this concert. This performance event also included the customary and popular giveaways as well as activities for some audience interaction.

The entire second half consisted of Berlioz’s four-movement work, “Harold in Italy”. The viola soloist and orchestra principal Charlotte Fetherston once more displayed clear and finely nuanced playing. Key motives relating to the protagonist and others encountered on his journey are played with character and spontaneity. Solo themes and accompanying filigree from Fetherston were well projected above the competing orchestral textures.

This performance had a considerable amount of heightened Berlioz expression to savour, and a range of exciting meaty unison climaxes. It was also a fortunate thing for the audience to get to hear this work live. It would have been satisfying to have the orchestral colours augmented by an authentic harp as scored and not an electronic keyboard substitute.

Also a highlight of this concert programme was its opening with the Peer Gynt Suite No. 2, Op 55, of rather than the much more often heard first collection Op 23. In particular, the final piece in this suite, the well-known ‘Solveig’s Song’ was quite poised and elegant. Elegantly shaped lines and suitable mood also featured in the suite’s opening, ‘Ingrid’s Lament’. The absence of a real harp was once again noted here.

The central work in this concert was the Haydn ‘Drumroll’ Symphony No 103. The finale to this work was the most precise as well as being most period-appropriate with regard to clarity of line and tempo choice. Timpanist Merrilee McNaught provided very successful drum roll effects in the work’s opening movement. The solo violin of concertmaster Alistair Duff-Forbes provided convincing Haydnesque runs during variations in the Andante movement.

Balmain Sinfonia, orchestra-in-residence at Macquarie University, is planning an interesting concert of sizeable works for its next offering. A celebration of the jubilee of Macquarie University will appear in the next concert with a bracket of music heard during Lachlan Macquarie’s lifetime. Also to be presented are a piano concerto by Beethoven and a major symphony by Saint-Saens.

For more about Balmain Sinfonia, visit http://balmainsinfonia.com