Glowing review for Firebird

In the latest edition of highly respected magazine Musical Opinion, amongst reviews for the likes of the London Philharmonic Orchestra and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra is a glowing review of London Firebird Orchestra…

First published in 1877 with a critical review of Brahms’ new Second Symphony, Musical Opinion is Britain’s oldest classical music magazine. 130 years on, Musical Opinion has subscribers in over 38 countries.

The January – March 2019 edition carried a full page review of Firebird’s Egmont in October concert conducted by George Jackson.

Of the opening Beethoven Overture the review said:

‘conductor George Jackson painting picturesque orchestral colours that captured the darkness and suspense of its introduction…. with a splendidly rousing and energetic final section, complete with a vivid sense of Beethovenian victory.’

Bruch’s seductively popular G minor Violin Concerto was equally popular, with soloist Leonard Schreiber:

‘offering a full-blown virtuosic account. Schreiber’s intense passion for the music was enchanting, while each note finely executed from his Mezzadri violin rang like a bell through the clear acoustic: there was singing lyricism and dashing liveliness.’

Praise too for the young English soprano Verity Wingate who stunned the audience with a captivating performance of ‘Song to the Moon’ from Rusalka. In the concert’s main event, Dvorák’s Symphony No. 8, conductor George Jackson ‘revealed a real understanding of the symphony’s structure and form, offering an altogether mature account full of authentic Bohemian dialect’ . 

The review also noted ‘some particularly fine solo work in the wind…’, and ‘a rich and authentically Bohemian string sound, with chocolatey dark colours from the lower strings…’

And summing up…

‘The Orchestra can look forward to a long and distinguished future… London is in for a Treat!’

So Firebird is well and truly on the musical map. And not just in London, because the next Firebird concert is in Oxford with Firebird in February…

Firebird in February

Sunday 10 February 6pm
St John-the-Evangelist Oxford

Mozart Overture to Die Zauberflöte K. 620
Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 in Bb minor, Op. 23
Beethoven Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67

George Jackson conductor
Marc Corbett-Weaver piano

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