Review of Morrison’s Academy at Perth Festival of the Arts

May 24 2011 Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

THE String Orchestra and the Girls’ Chamber Choir bracketed a line-up of splendid soloists in the programme presented by the pupils of Morrison Academy in St John’s Kirk on Friday.

Howard Shore’s music for Lord of the Rings gave the orchestra the chance to demonstrate its fine warmth of tone. A languid sweeping legato and effective shimmering strings hinted at the dark, mysterious subject of the film.

Little Libby Dillon, in boxing parlance, punched much above her weight, tripping through Kabalevsky’s piano Sonatina with innocent insouciance. With lovely and well understood dynamic effect violinist Melissa McDonald exactly caught the Baroque character of the Telemann Vivace. Gently, unhurried, flautist Rebecca Coffey literally breathed new life into Gluck’s well-worn Dance of the Blessed Spirits.

Clearly Amy Smart was playing on an exceptionally fine instrument, proved in its depth of tone. This she exploited, giving a performance of great, heart-tugging sensitivity, prompting the wonder that a player of such youth could express so completely the ineffable sadness of the work. Amy was joined by Melissa McDonald, Laura Strickland and Leslie Haldane in a most effective reduction of the score of music written for the film Titanic. Wistfulness characterised this performance.

Laura Strickland’s violin was andante Sostenuto by Rieding. Her playing was delightful, demonstrating a nice delicacy of touch to capture the meditative quality of the work. Hannah Logan chose two movements of a Vivaldi Sonata for her cello solo. To technical expertise she brought confidence and an appreciable understanding of the composer’s style.

Clare Radcliff obviously relished the change of Solo De Concert, a show piece for alto saxophone. She performed with fearless, bold attack with flowing legato and finer-daunting trills. Lindsey MacDonad brought out the contrast between the Sarabande and the Bourre Anglaise of Bach, the nimble fingering in the latter particularly excellent.

Perhaps it was the opportunity to play the kirk’s new piano that inspired Marianne Inglis to give what might be regarded as the most impressive performance of the concert.

The Girls’ Chamber choir sang from the heart May It Be and California Dreaming and closed the concert with a perky rendition of Charlie is My Darling.

All in all the pupils of Morrison’s Academy presented a programme rich in talent and markedly stylish.

Sigurd Scott