Category: Reviews

“One of the best solo live performances of the work I have ever heard….”

12th March 2020

Herts Advertiser critic John Manning reviews a “superb” performance of Elgar’s Cello Concerto by soloist Matthew Sharp, accompanied by praise for the whole orchestra and conductor Tom Hammond for their account of Walton’s First Symphony. I have a feeling that the main reason many people attended Saturday’s concert at St Saviour’s Church in St Albans …

St Albans St Cecilia Festival Society concert ‘a triumph’ at the Cathedral

21st October 2019

John Manning, music critic of the Herts Advertiser, enjoyed the 2019 St Albans St Cecilia Festival concert as “a triumph on several levels” Combining a group of amateur choirs for a one-off performance can produce something of a nightmare – but this year’s presentation by the St Albans St Cecilia Festival Society was a triumph …

“In all the evening was a huge success for the orchestra…”

16th May 2019

Herts Advertiser critic John Manning heard the orchestra ‘at the top of its form’ in a spring programme of English classics. Between them Ralph Vaughan Williams and Edward Elgar are the two finest English composers from the 20th century and any concert featuring the music of both becomes a must for many concert-goers.It proved just …

“Clare Howick’s performance was completely outstanding…”

14th March 2019

Herts Advertiser critic John Manning was impressed by SASO’s March 9 concert with the leading British violinist Clare Howick. When both major works in St Albans Symphony Orchestra’s latest programme were first performed artists complained that they were virtually unplayable, writes John Manning. But at Saturdays concert at St Saviour’s Church, St Albans, the orchestra …

SASO performs ‘outstandingly’ at its New Years Day concert

10th January 2019

John Manning reviewed SASO’s New Years Day ‘Strictly Dancing and Mostly Movies’ concert for the Herts Advertiser. It wouldn’t be New Year’s Day in St Albans without the annual concert at St Albans Abbey provided by the city’s symphony orchestra. For hundreds of people it is a much-loved annual event that brings an extra sparkle …

“…the result was a triumph.”

11th November 2018

John Manning at the Herts Advertiser can rarely remember a better performance by SASO than our Shostakovich and Arnold on October 13 It takes great confidence for an amateur orchestra to take on the sort of challenging programme that the St Albans Symphony Orchestra performed on Saturday. Shostakovich’s wonderful Cello Concerto No 1 and his …

“…every moment was a thrill.”

3rd July 2018

Herts Advertiser music critic John Manning says SASO’s whole performance in an all-Sibelius programme on June 23rd was gripping Saturday’s all Sibelius programme presented by the St Albans Symphony Orchestra under its conductor Tom Hammond had all the makings of a rare treat. And treat it was for the orchestra excelled with an evening of …

“…assured, fresh and polished…”

21st May 2018

Geoff Ward reviewed SASO’s May 2018 concert for the Herts Advertiser St Albans Symphony Orchestra’s concert at St Saviour’s Church on Saturday, May 12 was an all-Russian programme. It began with the hugely entertaining Festive Overture by Shostakovich in which the orchestra showed real energy and flair throughout, with particularly good playing from the brass …

“…a thoroughly entertaining and enjoyable evening.”

20th March 2018

Herts Advertiser critic John Manning reviews SASO’s Dvorak and Vaughan-Williams concert (St Saviour’s Church, March 10) Two composers who loved the folk music of their homeland were Ralph Vaughan Williams and Antonin Dvorak, whose music made up the programme for St Albans Symphony Orchestra’s programme on Saturday. Five Variants of Dives and Lazarus, Vaughan Williams’ …

“The resulting performance was first-class…”

25th October 2017

Herts Advertiser critic John Manning was impressed by the 2017 St Cecilia Festival Concert in St Albans Cathedral “Probably the biggest achievement of the St Albans St Cecilia Society is bringing together four distinct and different groups of amateur singers and musicians to produce an interesting and entertaining event. And this year the society’s concert …

Category: Reviews

Recent News

Reviews