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The Birmingham Post
Orchestra of the Swan – Kingsley College, Redditch
30 November 2007 4 * * * *

Orchestra of the Swan thrills a full house

Full marks for artistic director David Curtis and his merry band for their extraordinary and innovative programme in the small theatre at Kingsley College.

A crammed stage and capacity audience generated a certain excitement, the concert opening with full strings for the Vaughan Williams Tallis Fantasia. A rich dark opening contrasted with fine solos (namely leader and viola) and imaginative question and answer passages. This lovely sweeping hymn loses none of the composer's connection with the English countryside, becoming much-loved over the decades.

Samuel Barber's rarely performed Violin Concerto deserves more exposure, especially with soloist Tasmin Little, a musician who always delivers the goods with verve and commitment. Despite an overpowering orchestra - more to do with acoustics and scoring than thoughtlessness - the luscious 1757 Guadanini violin thrilled with dark tones and fiery articulations.

A lovely oboe solo opened the second movement, but muted string accompaniments could have been taken down a notch. The rip-roaring final Perpetuum Mobile kept everyone on their toes, posing no problems for the soloist with her myriads of quirky prestissimo semiquavers. A tour-de-force throughout.

Britten's early theatre music is rarely performed, but his resurrected Johnson over Jordan shook off cobwebs with a contemporary slant from young Kingsley College students.

Trumpets heralded the main theme, moving to Britten-based interludes, colourfully performed by student dancers, backed by percussion, electric guitars, saxophones, various winds and singers. The Jungle Hot Spot Night Club, with heavy beat, slid into delicious sleaze with OOTS's smooching strings and cool clarinet.

A unique night out.

Maggie Cotton