Family Concert at St George's, Bristol, 21st January 2006

Players and audience at St George's Family Concert had any New Year blues blown clean away on the 21st January, when the NSC launched its 2006 season with an exuberant (but well-drilled!) Sax to the Max programme.

Management at this prestigious Bristol venue described the concert as 'fabulous', and a near capacity audience greeted the versatile programme with huge enthusiasm. Local soloist Helen Finch's fiery soprano solo in Sa Roncadora was met with special warmth, as was conductor Keiron Anderson's introduction to the eight members of the sax family, but the most energetic foot-stomping and deafening cat calls were reserved for musical director Nigel Wood's quite stunning soprillo solo in Philip Buttall's Waltzing Soprillda - an extraordinary and exhilarating romp through two centuries of musical history with 'Matilda'. This was the second premiere of the evening, the first - Patrick Bouchard's velvety, bitter-sweet Without your love... - a complete contrast.

Reviews

The NSC Family Concert was a huge success, creating a real buzz of excitement amongst the audience from start to finish. The playing was of a very high standard, and the programming perfect for an audience of young people and the young at heart!

It featured an inspiring collection of musical items, a number of them expertly written or arranged by the band's own soprillo champion Nigel Wood. There can't be many concerts where Beethoven's Fifth Symphony stands side by side with Bohemian Rhapsody, but this versatile ensemble tackled both with equal gusto! Kieron Anderson's presentation was both entertaining and informative, making the whole audience feel involved.

Overall - a vibrant introduction for young people to the saxophone family, classical music and the concert hall, and fine entertainment for those of us already there.
Catherine Freda, St George's, Bristol

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