Classical Review: Cork Concert Orchestra

Cork’s newest orchestra made a most impressive debut, before a delighted audience that obviously enjoyed the popular programme chosen by conductor Tom Crowley. It is heart-warming for those of us who have had the privilege of teaching the hundreds of musical children who passed through CIT Cork School of Music and Cork County School of Music, in recent years, to see that, as adults, they are continuing to enjoy their music-making and to play at such a high level of proficiency.

Each of the four works, Mendelssohn’s ‘Hebrides Overture’, Khachaturian’s ‘Adagio (Spartacus)’, Smetana’s ‘Vltava’, and Dvorak’s ‘New World Symphony’ had passages of exquisitely sensitive playing and, generally, the balance between strings and wind was excellent. Considering that these young players studied, rehearsed and brought this programme to performance level in just one week proves how talented they are and augurs very well for the future.