By Lesley Clare
I had been looking forward to attending this concert for some time and arrived at Tatsfield Village Hall with a feeling of excited anticipation. Before the music began, I had time to peruse the programme with its excellent notes about the pieces of music, the composers and the performers. Gill Paterson should be congratulated for creating a great start to my evening.
We were warmly welcomed by Jon Maynard, the NDS Chairman and conductor for the evening. The concert would have a British flavour as two of the items were by English composers and the other was about the British aristocracy, albeit written by an Italian! Jon gave a very amusing introduction to Donizetti’s Roberto Devereux Overture and then it was time for the music to begin.
The members of the NDS, led by Sylvia Seaton, played confidently with good balance between the instruments. They achieved lovely dynamic contrasts in this piece and the music sparkled all the way through to its stirring climax.
Next it was Elgar’s well loved Cello Concerto. There was a real buzz in the audience as Jon introduced the soloist, sixteen year old Mariatu Kanneh-Mason. To hear this piece in such an intimate setting was a real treat. Mariatu drew the audience in as she played so that they felt part of the music. She played confidently and sensitively, giving each of the movements a different colour and really making her cello sing. This was not just about an extremely talented teenager but about the music itself and it was as if I had heard this old favourite through new ears. It was an assured performance by Mariatu, the NDS and Jon and it was a real privilege to have been there. As the music finished, there was rapturous applause and then Mariatu treated us to an encore, playing a Bach unaccompanied Bourée with great aplomb.
After the interval, the NDS played Alice Mary Smith’s Symphony No 1 in C minor. Until today, this female Victorian composer was not known to me and I was not aware that I had heard any of her music. It seems that in her relatively short life she was quite a prolific composer and I shall now be looking out for more of her work.
I really enjoyed listening to the NDS playing this symphony. They produced beautiful legato sections in the first movement and glorious melodies with gentle accompaniments in the second. They created dance-like qualities in the third movement and the finale was a majestic triumph. The thing I liked best about this work is that the composer gives all the instruments their time in the spotlight and the NDS players rose to the occasion, playing expertly when their moment of glory arrived.
This was a thoroughly enjoyable concert and Jon Maynard and the NDS should be congratulated for all they do. I am delighted that they will be giving other young musicians the opportunity to perform with an orchestra in their concert in January 2026. Do try to get there if you can!
