Many members of the audiences at the Summer Series of Concerts this year will have been somewhat surprised and perhaps concerned at the absence from the rostrum of our conductor of nearly 30 years Mr Sam Newgarth.

Early in the summer term at the beginning of April Sam was seriously ill with pneumonia and taken into hospital.  Afterwards he was advised to take a rest period, which prohibited him from attending WOS rehearsals.  However, those who attended the concert at St Nicholas Church, Corfe Mullen on June 17th may have seen him in the audience and we are happy to report that Sam will be back with us in September and we trust fully recovered.

This meant that Deputy Conductor Mr Dave Brooks was required to take over the responsibility of the three Summer Concerts which he did so with great enthusiasm, energy and aplomb and deserves our thanks and congratulations. The same programme was presented at St Ambrose Church, Westbourne and St Thomas’s Church, Ensbury Park on the 23rd and 24th June respectively.

The concerts opened with the overture from the comic opera “Candide” by Leonard Bernstein with its explosion of challenges, including a wealth of glissandi and acrobatics, for all sections of the Orchestra.

This was followed by something of an entirely different nature “Romance in F” by Beethoven.  This simple and charming work scored for strings, flutes oboes, bassoons and horns was performed beautifully, the solo violinist part being taken and exquisitely rendered by Orchestra leader Jane Bultz. 

The first half of the concert finished with Sullivan’s enjoyable and bubbly music from the comic opera “Pineapple Poll” with a score by Charles Mackerras.

The second half of the concert was taken up with Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 (nicknamed the Victory Symphony) and everyone immediately recognised the opening notes, which are the most well known in whole of classical music. Once again the Orchestra acquitted itself admirably particularly the cellos and violas in the exposed section at the introduction of the third movement.

Comment from Mr Don Patis at St Ambrose –“The strings and wind sections are always reliable.  This time the brass played equally well.” Praise indeed.

Proceeds amounted to some £800, which after deduction of expenses will be given to the venue hosts. The WOS is indebted to the hosts for permitting the concerts to take place and providing interval refreshments.