The Seychelles International Festival of Classical Music |18 October 2008

The event was held on October 3 in the concert hall of St John’s, Smith Square, next door to the Houses of Parliament in Westminster. It was a joint partnership between the Seychelles InterFest Symphony Orchestra and the Lloyd’s Choir, a chamber choir based in the heart of the City.

On this occasion the orchestra, made up of the 60 young and talented professional musicians who performed at the 2006 festival, had come together under the baton of the two newly appointed London music directors, Benjamin Ellin and Jacques Cohen, for a programme of orchestral and choral music.

Flamboyant Ellin set the scene for the evening with a rumbustious performance of Rimsky-Korsakov’s Capriccio Espagnol, giving prominence to the explosive activities of the brass and percussion sections.

Regular concert-goers were not distracted in their appreciation of the contrasting and gentle sound of the solo flute, which eventually climaxed into the glissando of the harp.

The “pièce de résistance” – the celebrated Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor – was confidently interpreted by Michal Solomon, international pianist from Tel Aviv.

The close liaison between pianist and conductor and unified support of the orchestra were in full evidence. Miss Solomon’s virtuosity and maturity were well to the fore, and music lovers look forward to her performing this great piece at the 6th festival next May.

The setting for the choral work after the interval – calm, reflective and spiritually uplifting – was introduced by Cohen’s interpretation of the Dvorak Mass in D Minor. The solo artists, Sarah Moule (soprano), Charles Humphries (countertenor), Lee David Bowen (tenor) and Richard Strivens (bass-baritone) were ably supported by the Lloyd’s Chamber Choir. For those who appreciate and love liturgical music, Cohen took them on a truly spiritual and elevating journey.

Judging by the comments from a wide cross-section of the audience, regular concert-goers as well as those attending their first concert thought it a most enjoyable evening.

The festival’s UK technical advisory committee believes a London promotional concert before each festival is the way forward to advertise this prestigious international event. It will also promote the fast growing reputation of the Seychelles InterFest Symphony Orchestra on the London stage. The next promotional concert is set for October 2010.