SASO’s New Year Concert for 2016 was “a huge success” according to John Manning, music critic of the Herts Advertiser.
His review notes that: “From the start with Saint-Saens’ rousing Bacchanale from Samson and Delilah it was obvious that the orchestra was on form and working well with its guest. And the good work continued with Mascagni’s Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana and Sibelius’s beautiful and haunting Valse Triste. “
But he adds that the outstanding work of the entire evening was Leonard Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story: “Although an absolute delight for the audience, the set of nine dances are a massive challenge for the orchestra with their ever-changing moods and rhythms as well as very tricky timing as partial phrases are passed from one instrument to another. The performance was an outstanding success with dazzling solo performances from individual members of the orchestra and a rich balance of sound with good, clean rhythms.”
“The evening was a huge success for the orchestra and its guest conductor (Tom Hammond) and was clearly thoroughly enjoyed by the audience.”