Brighton Philharmonic brass section, review: Brighton Dome, Sunday, February 9

While storm Ciara was raging outside there was no shortage of wind inside the Dome too as Brighton Philharmonic’s brass section grabbed a rare opportunity to take centre stage with an eclectic concert spanning five centuries of music.
Brighton Philharmonic BrassBrighton Philharmonic Brass
Brighton Philharmonic Brass

It was a somewhat rare feast of early English and European, baroque and jazz played by five trumpets, four trombones, a French horn and a tuba.

There was even a little percussion input from principal horn John James.

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The first half comprised six Renaissance dances by Flemish composer Tylman Susato and Three Sonatas by highly influential Italian Giovanni Gabrielli before fast forwarding to 1979 for Symphony for Brass by Dutchman Jan Koetsier.

As acceptable as that was, however, it was the second half that really shone for me. William Byrd’s Earl of Oxford March was followed by Henry Purcell’s ever-popular Trumpet Tune and Air before the novel afternoon finished once more in the 20th century with the jazzy and lighthearted Four Brass Cats by composer and arranger Chris Hazell and the Divertimento for Ten Brass by American Ray Premru, principal bass trombone with the Philharmonia for 30 years. Those last two pieces in particular were superbly performed as the brass players by then were well into their stride.

Next up on March 1, in what is a short but breakthrough season for the BPO, is another one-off in the shape of pianists extraordinaire Worbey & Farrell, who made their debut with the BPO in 2018 and this time present their own amazing arrangements of the world’s greatest music.

Visit www.brightonphil.org.uk to find out more.

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