CSO confirms status as one of the finest

Judging by their exemplary performance in the Festivities Concert, Chichester Symphony Orchestra must be one of the very best amateur orchestras in Sussex.

The orchestra has certainly benefitted from the direction and enthusiasm of their new conductor, Michael Walsh, with whom they have achieved new and greater heights.

The orchestra undoubtedly excels because of their fine and disciplined strings section, with each sub-section making an impressive contribution.This was confirmed when they immediately established the famous first theme in Mozart's Symphony No. 40 in G minor in a strong and powerful way.

The Chichester Symphony Orchestra gave a highly professional interpretation of Gabriel Fauré's Suite, Pelleas and Melisande, faithfully portraying the torment and anguish of the doomed lovers. The dark mood was only lifted briefly with Gillian Hooker's exquisite flute solo on the Sicilienne movement which won her well justified individual applause.

Soprano Rebecca Grove's bright and joyful singing of Allelulia from Mozart's Exultate Jubilate made this difficult and complex work sound so easy. My only criticism is that her contribution was so short.

The grand scale of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor's Violin Concerto in G minor was confidently performed by the orchestra and the soloist, Mark Hartt-Palmer. His radiant performance was brimming with intensity and drama. His playing demonstrated enormous vitality of sound and emotion.

Graham Hewitt, Chichester Observer