To tackle a programme including Mahler’s First
Symphony after one week’s acquaintance together would be a tall order for any professional
orchestra. That the National Children’s Orchestra under Jonathan Bloxham
sounded so good doing it is little short of miraculous.
Of course they’re not to be compared with
adult professionals, and don’t attain the near-professional standards of the
National Youth Orchestra or conservatoire bodies. But if there’s one thing their
concert at the Bridgewater Hall on Saturday showed it is that these youngsters
can produce amazing sounds with orchestral instruments, both individually and
together.
They began with Korngold’s Schauspiel
Ouvertüre – itself written by a 14-year-old – in which the most immediate
feature of their sound was the sweetness of the string playing and the blending
of their brass. Mahler’s Symphony no. 1, when it came, tested every
department of the orchestra but emerged as a real success, bringing their
audience (favourably biased, admittedly, in many cases) to its feet in
admiration. Jonathan Bloxham and his team of music staff had achieved something
remarkable in their week’s course of training: the precision of much of the
playing (from a very large body), the richness of tone in many areas, and the
collective creation of great musical effects were thrilling.
Before that their star soloist, saxophonist,
Last Night of the Proms darling, broadcaster, RNCM product and undoubtedly the
most exciting thing to have come from Ulverston since Stan Laurel, Jess Gillam,
made her own impact with a piece by John Williams called Escapades from Catch
Me If You Can (a three-movement suite from Williams’ film score).
Characteristically, she made light of all
its intricacies and sailed through its lively jazz-inflected text with an
infectious sense of enjoyment. As long as the NCO keeps its emphasis on
top-class music making being fun, it really can’t go wrong.
Jess Gillam c Kaupo Kikkas
