Appalachian Spring - Copland

Concierto de Aranjuez - Rodrigo

Pavanne pour une infante defunte - Ravel Symphony: Mathis der Maler Hindemith

Hindemith's opera Mathis der Maler concerns the artist's relation to society in troubled times; it was therefore appropriate that this performance of the symphony derived from it should have been dedicated to the memory of the fearless grappler with contemporary issues Sir Michael Tippett, who died on the morning of this concert. Fittingly, the Ulster Orchestra is due to play his Concerto for Double String Orchestra in a few weeks' time.

The Ulster Orchestra has played the Hindemith several times in the last few years, but under the expressive direction of Hilary Griffiths they gave the work the same warmth with which they invested Appalachian Spring. In fact this concert showed the orchestra on good form, with clean-cut string playing, refined wind, and good balance throughout, the brass in the Hindemith being assertive without being overbearing.

The Ravel went especially well, the gauzy string tome making an idiomatic backdrop for sensitively played wind solos. Likewise in the Rodrigo guitar concerto, the orchestra's transparent accompaniment made a good setting for the expert playing of Manuel Barrueco.

One's only complaint lay with the programming itself, for while the Copland and Rodrigo are agreeable works, they are also rather lightweight, and at least one member of the audience found the effect of hearing them both in succession rather soporific.