REVIEW: Havant Symphony Orchestra at Oaklands School, Waterlooville

As a founder of the first Havant Music Festival, Cllr Ponsonby promotes music for youth, so it was fitting that young Tom Torley played the Gregson Tuba Concerto with aplomb. The Mendelssohn overture Ruy Blas opened with an attention-catching brass fanfare followed by the familiar main theme played in a spritely manner.

The atmospheric In The Steppes of Central Asia by Borodin was imaginatively performed under the baton of Jonathan Butcher, the Russian song and oriental melody holding the audience’s attention in the flattering acoustics of Oaklands School Hall.

Butcher later returned to the podium to conduct Dvorak’s Symphonic Variations with energy and almost danced his way in the final section. HSO responded with a well-rehearsed performance tackling 27 variaions of speed and timbre with relish.

The standard of Havant Symphony Orchestra’s performances continues to rise, evident in the warm applause which filled Oaklands School’s hall.