Summer Concert - Saturday, 15th July 2023

I’m very proud to have been elected, recently, as President of the Folkestone Symphony Orchestra. Obviously I am not impartial and having been invited to write a critique of the Concert last night, I write from the heart and not from the pen of a Music Critic and connoisseur of Classical Music.

So far, in my tenure, this is the 3rd Concert I’ve attended. They have all been excellent. I love the variety of works they choose to perform and last night almost outshone the others.

The Orchestra has a superb and plentiful String Section though I’m told by their Conductor, Rupert Bond, they are light on brass. The string section is led by Floriane Peycelon who last night treated us to a Virtuoso performance in Lalo’s Symphonie Espagnole. I was breathless watching her hands moving so fast they almost disappeared - it was a tour de force for which she received a well-deserved standing ovation.

The Vaughan-Williams was almost a shock. I repeat that I’m just an ordinary member of the public when it comes to my musical taste. I’d no idea the composer could be so ‘violent’ but afterwards I read that this composition was probably his interpretation of a nation on the brink of war. It was passionate and very moving.

Holy Trinity Church has excellent acoustics and a dedicated audience who fill the ‘Auditorium’. If you have never been to a Folkestone Symphony Concert and are a lover of classical music, then you are missing a treat. My only regret is that the Orchestra don’t perform more concerts during their annual Season. Their conductor explained that it is not easy to get together the 60 members of the orchestra for rehearsals.

Their next oeuvre will be on Saturday 11th November, again in Holy Trinity Church, which sees the return of Korean born violinist, Joo Yeon Sir who, I have no doubt, will have us spellbound in Bruch’s Scottish Fantasy. Smetana’s Vltava (Moldau) and Sibelius’ Symphony No.5 complete the programme for this performance.

Following that, on Sunday 10th December, will be their Christmas Concert and a little bird has whispered that one of the pieces they may well perform is ‘Peter and the Wolf’ narrated by yours truly. Do come and celebrate with us.

Jan Leeming
16th July 2023.