Wide variety of thrilling overtures on offer

Members of the Bognor Regis Recorded Music Club gave a warm welcome to a long-time member, Julian Pelling, at a recent meeting. Julian is the proprietor of Fine Records of Hove and brought along eight CDs which had received the highest acclaim from critics in the past year.
By The Newsroom
Published 15th Dec 2008, 17:13 BST
Updated 7th Jun 2018, 17:49 BST

A sizzling overture made a lively start '“ Weber's Overture: Abu Hassan, with its colourful, Eastern sound effects played by the New Zealand SO, conducted by Antoni Wit.

Julian then played a premiere recording of York Bowen's 3rd Piano Concert, one of the 'Romantic Piano Concerto' series produced by Hyperion, played by Danny Driver with the BBC Scottish SO. Composed in 1907, this unknown concerto proved melodious and virtuosic.

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Julian then played two movements from a brand-new recording of Mahler's 3rd Symphony conducted by the Russian maestro Valery Gergiev with the London Symphony Orchestra.

Contralto Anna Larsson was joined by the Tiffin Boys Choir in the adagio 'Mysterioso' movement.

A captivating 18th century trumpet concert by Neruda, a Bohemian, followed for a complete contrast '“ its Haydn-like trills seemingly effortlessly played by Alison Balsom. A rarity came next '“ Tchaikovsky's Overture to Incidental Music to Hamlet, played by the Russian National Orchestra conducted by Jurowski.

Julian stayed with Russia for his next choice, the adagio from Dmitri Kabalevsky's Symphony no 2 in C min, op 19. A work by another seldom-played composer followed '“ part of Charles-Valentin Alkan's 25 Preludes, op 31 played by Stanley Hoogland on an 1858 Pleyel piano.

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For his final choice, Julian chose the version of Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition where each 'picture' was arranged by a different composer. The Great Gate of Kiev as arranged by Leopold Stokowsky made a thrilling ending to Julian's entertaining programme.

The club's Christmas party is on December 18, and the new season starts on January 8. Details on 01243 827358.

Related topics:HoveMusic