Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Archives

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – Hull City Hall

21Oct

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – Hull City Hall

The opening concert of Hull City Hall’s Classic Season was very well attended on Thursday evening. And as we took our seats it was a joy just to sit and watch this magnificent orchestra - its members resplendent in black and white evening wear - warming up. The City Hall’s grand organ - all 5,505 pipes of it - provided a wonderful backdrop for these talented musicians as did the historical friezes above the stage. In my reviews, I always focus on the stage setting, but the orchestra itself was all the setting needed. Any additions would have been overkill. The knowledgeable audience (alas, not me where the classics are concerned) gave a rousing welcome when the tall, handsome figure of Leslie Suganandarajah - the conductor for the evening - appeared on stage. Immediately I sens...

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra: Film Music Gala – Hull City Hall

It takes something special for my goosebumps to reveal themselves but, my goodness, on Thursday night, the minute the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra struck up the opening chords of the main theme to The Big Country movie, my skin erupted in ‘em. The animated conductor, Stephen Bell, was the person responsible for my eruptions, as he was the one wielding the baton, looking like he was enjoying every minute for the couple of hours the orchestra performed. This extremely talented bunch of musicians launched the hall’s Classics Season and the programme, as the title suggests, was bursting with well-known themes from blockbuster movies of the past five decades. The beautiful City Hall stage was the perfect backdrop for the immaculately dressed ladies and gentlemen and their gleaming inst...

Matthew Bourne’s The Nutcracker – Birmingham Hippodrome

It may be February, but it is never too late to catch this superb production of The Nutcracker. First of all, take everything you know about The Nutcracker, screw it up and throw it out of the window. This ballet is like no other version you have seen before. Matthew Bourne has taken the family favourite (and the version he first created 30 years ago) and given it a very colourful make over. The basic story of Clara and her toy is there, but it opens in an orphanage rather than a lavish house. She is still transported away to a fantasy world of ice and then sweets, but the national dances have been replaced by ones representing confectionery. Unlike the usual version there is a story being told throughout, the second half has more of a purpose than just a showcase for different style...