Hull City Hall – 24th November 2024
Reviewed by Dawn Bennett
5*****
What a brilliant way of spending a Sunday afternoon, watching the Hull Philharmonic Orchestra play A Family Concert, Heroes and Villains. With a history of performing for over 130 years I was expecting good things from them but what a delight they were and so talented!
Under Musical Director, Simon Chalk, and leader Richard Quick, they played music from a variety of different composers some instantly recognisable and some new.
We listened to Fanfare for the Common Man and then Billy the Kid (Ballet Suite) which included pieces Mexican Dance and Gun Battle, composed by Aaron Copeland.
Poppies, which was by local composer Sam Mavor, was a glorious piece of music composed in the autumn of 2022 and inspired by the remembrance poppy, worn to remember the conflicts of the two World Wars and later conflicts. It was such a beautiful piece of music and very moving and was conducted by Elaine King.
Following on from Poppies was Hymn to the Fallen from the film Saving Private Ryan composed by the brilliant John Williams.
After the interval We had Fanfare to the Uncommon Woman composed by Joan Tower.
We then had Wojciceh Kilars Suite from Dracula. I really enjoyed these pieces particularly The Storm which was dark, foreboding and very atmospheric.
The King of the spaghetti western music, composer Ennio Morricone, Moment for Morricone was instantly recognisable with the music from The Good The Bad and The Ugly and Once Upon a Time in the West.
The last piece of music played was another masterpiece from composer John Williams the Superman March from the Superman film, fabulously played and when it ended it brought the audience to their feet in a well-deserved standing ovation.
All the pieces, apart from Poppies, were conducted by Simon Chalk, and what a wonderful conductor he was and his explanations about the pieces made an enjoyable concert even more so.
The choirs, Hull University Camerata Singers, Hymers Junior School Choir (Year 6) and Hymers Senior School Choir were very good. Their singing helped to bring the pieces alive.
This was a really fabulous concert and I look forward to watching them again in the near future and I would really recommend everyone to go and see them. Definitely not one to miss!