Overture: Morning, Noon and Night in Vienna - Suppe
Le Tombeau de Couperin - Ravel
Fairy Tales for Accordion and Orchestra - Vaclav Trojan
Russian Sailor's Dance from Op. 70 - Gliere
Tuesday's Summer Lunchtime concert in the NCH saw the RTECO in robust form, emphasising the popular elements in a selection of popular music. Suppe's day in Vienna after a cloyingly romantic encounter in the street, or was it in a bedroom, launched itself into a Donnybrook Fair where Sweeney and Mrs Porter danced to the sounds of motor-horns.
Ravel's Tombeau de Couperin was a relief, with nice cool playing from the woodwind, but even greater delicacy would not have been amiss. Dermot Dunne's accordion was a visual as well as an auditory pleasure as it mimicked not only the threatening growls of the dragon but also its sluggish coiling and uncoiling in Vaclav Trojan's Fairy Tales from Czechoslovakia. This colourful score made neat use of the accordion's status as special guest in the classical orchestra; the tonal contrasts were especially effective.
Proinnsias O Duin raced through Gliere's Sailor's Dance, ending with a deafening crash which seemed to say "I'm glad it's over".
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