Review of Perth 800 Celebration Concert

Jul 9 2010 by Alison Anderson, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

IN the five-year history of Perth Concert Hall, many of Perth and Perthshire’s talented amateur singers, musicians and dancers have performed in this world-class venue. But never have so many local performers of all ages gathered together on such a happy occasion as Sunday’s well attended Perth 800 Celebration Concert.

There was an undoubted sense of pride as well as enjoyment as Perth trumpeted its huge wealth of talent, in a slickly presented programme under the direction of Henry Neil and Martin Neilson.

And what a stroke of fortune it was that our home-spun international opera singer Donald Maxwell could be both MC and performer – his charming introductions to each act and informed and often humorous snippets of Perth history were spot-on, and then we soaked up his rich baritone tones like a cat supping the cream.

The high standard of the evening was set by the combined forces of Perth Youth Orchestra and Perth Symphony Orchestra – all immaculately turned out – under conductor Allan Young with their evocative playing of Malcolm Arnold’s Four Scottish Dances.

Howard Duthie took the baton to lead Chansons through three Shakespeare poems set to music by George Shearing, and there was a shift in vocal tempo when Perth Barbershop Singers conducted by Martin Neilson entertained with four songs.

Sandwiched between these two ensembles was Donald’s welcome to Perth’s Mr Music John Scrimger on piano who played his own music set to two William Soutar poems, ‘Patriotism’ and ‘Thrang and Thrivin’.

For this reviewer, the high-energy of Perth and Kinross Schools’ Big Band was a concert highlight.

Conductor Philip Alexander was so right when he said this young band is full of talent, and they made a superb job of the Average White Band’s Pick Up the Pieces – a strong Perth connection here through the AWB’s bassist and co-founder Alan Gorrie.

The first half of the evening closed with a rare opportunity to hear the City Operatic Group and Perth Amateur Operatic Society joining their voices in fine harmony for a selection from Les Miserables – a super performance which fully-merited the huge round of applause.

The second half illustrated the vast range of ages who contribute to Perth’s vibrant cultural scene. It opened with two songs from Perth Choral Society conducted by Peter Rutterford, their Battle Hymn from the Republic sending spirits soaring, and then a very young lass with a big personality led off a vibrant Mary Poppins showcase by the Julie Young School of Dance.

The Golden Oldies – Messrs Maxwell and Scrimger – entertained with two songs by John – his rousing The Spirit of Perth and the premier of John’s well-constructed tribute to the city landmark, the statue of the Fair Maid of Perth.

The 24-strong combined pipes and drums from Blairgowrie Pipe Band and the Spessart Highlanders from Aschaffenburg played a selection of Scottish pipe tunes, followed by the enthusiastic young people from The Fair City Singers, whose expressive and colourful song and dance routines focussed on songs from London Town conducted and arranged by Marion Neilson.

The evening closed in tremendous style with Perthshire Brass, whose members span quite a few decades! Their programme of popular music conducted by George Annan jnr sent pulses racing, especially with the closing ‘Loch Lomond’, the Runrig version, complete with a set of bagpipes.

Provost John Hulbert, whose idea it was to stage this very special ‘Perth’s Got Talent’ concert, spoke a few words stressing how music is one of Perth’s great strengths and thanking everyone, especially Messrs Neil and Neilson, for their input into the quality and smooth running of the concert – statements with which no one in the audience would have disagreed.

Alison Anderson