Danse - Debussy arr. Ravel

Havanaise in E, Op 83 - Saint-Saens

Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, Op 28 - Saint-Saens

Mother Goose, complete ballet - Ravel

The Havanaise, by SaintSaens, offers many opportunities for display to the solo violinist, and Aisling O'Dea played them with a beguiling mixture of energy and sweetness, faithful to the composer's rather refined version of the sensuous Spanish dance. The Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso is an earlier work in a similar vein and was played with the same charm, the orchestra in both works taking a supportive and sympathetically restrained role.

The most colourful items in last week's concert at the NCH were Ravel's arrangement of a piano piece by Debussy, Danse, and his music for the ballet of Mother Goose. It was in this last that David Brophy conjured some brilliant playing from the various sections of the NSO, maintaining a full orchestral sound without losing that delicacy of approach which is so essential to realise Ravel's subtle blendings of timbre.