It’s not just the concert stage that that bands excelled on during 2018.
Here are five concerts that made the biggest impression on our reviewers throughout the year.
Cory Band
2018 RNCM Brass Band Festival
Conductor: Philip Harper
Soloist: Tom Hutchinson
RNCM Manchester
Sunday 28th January
The annual RNCM Brass Band Festival remains the most important showcase for brass band repertoire in the world – and this concert given by the world’s number 1 ranked ensemble emphasized that more than anything else.
Artistic Director Paul Hindmarsh asks a great deal of the performers in delivering major works that cover the past, present and future of brass band composition – and that understanding was distilled to its very essence with Cory’s programme.
Works by Derek Bourgeois (with a stunning rendition of his ‘Cornet Concerto’ by Tom Hutchinson), Christopher Bond and Philip Harper surrounded the world premiere of ‘Rain, Steam, Speed’ by John Pickard.
Artistic Director Paul Hindmarsh asks a great deal of the performers in delivering major works that cover the past, present and future of brass band composition – and that understanding was distilled to its very essence with Cory’s programme.
Inspired by the metaphorical response of the artist J.M.W Turner to the relentless, ever-quickening speed of the industrial revolution as seen through the prism a steam train literally haring down a track, the ambiguities of the laws of physics and nature made for a totally engrossing listening experience.
Read the review: https://www.4barsrest.com/reviews/concerts/con2139.asp
Tubular Brass
Conductor: Sandy Smith
Featuring: Hannah Peel (synthesizers)
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Saturday 14th April
Tubular Brass hasn’t quite yet fully engaged with hardcore Mike Oldfield fans and aficionados, but it’s getting there.
It was always going to be more difficult to achieve than the fun-filled excess of ‘Acid Brass’ - as the intricacies and difficulties of bringing to the stage an arrangement of one of the most iconic albums of the 1970s seemed an almost impossible task.
This concert was given right in the heart of the capital - and as a result attracted a cosmopolitan audience, obviously keen, as well as a bit sceptical, about what they were to hear.
Sandy Smith and the team have given it one heck of a go though.
This concert was given right in the heart of the capital - and as a result attracted a cosmopolitan audience, obviously keen, as well as a bit sceptical, about what they were to hear.
They left impressed as well as entertained - especially as the encore was the hipster’s perennial favourite of choice, ‘Life on Mars’ by David Bowie.
Read the review: https://www.4barsrest.com/reviews/concerts/con2153.asp
Manger Musikklag
Nr 5 - A Story about Coco Chanel
Conductor: Allan Withington
Featuring: Open Window Theatre & Langhaugen Danselinje
Fana Kulturhus
Bergen
Saturday 26th May
Allan Withington’s remarkable production - ambitiously weaving together the complexities and contradictions of the life of the enigmatic fashion designer Coco Chanel and distilled into musical scent as intoxicating as her most famous perfume, gained richly deserved critical acclaim.
Bringing together a brass band, dance ensemble and a brace of lugubriously masked puppeteers as Swiss bankers was inventive enough in terms of presentation.
However, it was the way in which an ultimately tragic tale of isolated passion was told with acerbic wit balanced by heart wrenching pathos and relevant immediacy that grabbed you by the throat from start to finish.
However, it was the way in which an ultimately tragic tale of isolated passion was told with acerbic wit balanced by heart wrenching pathos and relevant immediacy that grabbed you by the throat from start to finish.
Read the review: https://www.4barsrest.com/reviews/concerts/con2163.asp
The Silent Anzac
Footscray-Yarraville City Band
Conductor: Phillipa Edwards
Featuring: Jamie Lawson; William McInnes; Margaret Haggart, Danielle Matthews & Joe Stanley
Australia House
London
Sunday 11th November
There have been many moving and memorable concerts given throughout the banding world in 2018 to mark the end of the First World War and the sacrifice given by so many in lands far from their home.
This one was particularly poignant and personal – starting with the discovery of an old bass drum in the bandroom of Footscray-Yaraville City Band.
This one was particularly poignant and personal – starting with the discovery of an old bass drum in the bandroom of Footscray-Yaraville City Band.
As vividly pertinent and powerful in 2018 in its message of loss and hope as it was a century ago - it formed part of a much larger tour of remembrance and commemoration undertaken by the band - one that spanned the globe.
Read the review: https://www.4barsrest.com/reviews/concerts/con2217.asp
Brass in Concert Gala Concert
Foden's Band
Conductor: Michael Fowles
Featuring: Matt Ford & Mike Lovatt
Sage Gateshead
Saturday 17th November
At a time when brass bands are finding it increasingly difficult to attract new audiences, Foden’s musical links to Big Band singer Matt Ford as well as the renowned trumpeter Mike Lovatt have been a remarkable success.
This concert, traditionally promoted as a showcase aperitif to the Brass in Concert contest also saw a brave change in emphasis by the organisers too - deliberately trying to engage with a new musical audience that has little particular interest in hearing brass bands in competition mode.
More like this and the audience will grow and grow to everyone’s benefit.
It wasn’t packed out – but those who did attend enjoyed an invigorating occasion - superbly presented and performed.
More like this and the audience will grow and grow to everyone’s benefit.
Read the review: https://www.4barsrest.com/reviews/concerts/2223.asp
