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Zehetmair's performance oozed enthusiasm and his presence on stage sent a musical smile throughout The Queen's Hall

Alexander Boyd-Bench, Youth Advisory Council Member

On behalf of our Youth Advisory Council, Alexander Boyd-Bench attended 'Thomas Zehetmair' at The Queen's Hall on 14th October. A programme of music by Bach, Mozart, Haydn and Mendelssohn, Alex shares his review of the concert and recommendations with us!

This was the first time I’d seen Thomas Zehetmair in concert both conducting and playing the violin. My first impression was that his performance oozed enthusiasm and his presence on stage sent a musical smile throughout The Queen's Hall. His interpretation of the Bach Violin Sonata in A Minor brought a new life to the piece and the orchestra complemented his performance beautifully. He also brought fluidity and smoothness with his conducting to the Mendelssohn Overture as well as an intelligent Mozart String Trio Arrangement.

My favourite piece of the evening was the delightful performance of Haydn’s 92nd Symphony ‘Oxford’, specifically the fourth and final movement. It was an excitement-infused performance, driven by Zeheitmair’s conducting with the SCO joyously following along. The end of the movement was particularly enjoyable with wonderful dynamic contrast powering towards the repeated chords and a well-deserved round of applause.

I would recommend attending 'Death in a Nutshell' to listen to the premiere of Jay Capperauld’s new piece conducted by Sir James Macmillan. In addition, the tear-jerking Mahler Adagietto is one of my favourite pieces and I am also looking forward to the SCO’s interpretation of Wagner’s Siegfried Idyll.

If I were to describe the concert in three words they would be an extraordinarily exciting performance!

Get to know our Youth Advisory Council here.

A photograph of a brown, fairly oppressive living room, featuring two cloth covered chairs and a table with a clock on it.

Death in a Nutshell | 11 & 12 November

Alex recommended our upcoming concert of Jay Capparauld's Death in a Nutshell conducted by Sir James MacMillan.

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