Variations And Fugue On A Theme Of Purcell - Britten

Sinfonia Concertante In E Flat K297b - Mozart

Concertino Op107 - Chaminade

Symphony No 8 - Dvorβk

Things have come a long way since the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland founded its under-18s orchestra 21 years ago. At the end of its six-concert tour of Ireland and Scotland, on Tuesday, the work of teachers and coaches, plus the players' commitment, had produced benefits far beyond the orchestra. Grant's vigour inspires the musicians to do their best and ensures they enjoy themselves.

The programme was demanding but suitable. The Britten offers rich rewards when the challenges of such idiomatic, characterful music are met, as they were on this occasion. The Dvorβk might sound less difficult, but its expressive scope is no less of a challenge. To show another aspect of orchestral playing, there were two concerto-style works, and to inspire by example, the soloists were the wind quintet of Jeunesses Musicales World Orchestra, who had coached during the preparations for this tour.

In the Mozart, the professionalism and musical maturity of Erik Behr (oboe), Daniel Bollinger (clarinet), Bostjan Lipovsek (horn) and Ireland's Peter Whelan (bassoon) were something to aim for. So were the superb tone and technique of Stephanie Winker, on flute, in the Chaminade.

One of the most impressive aspects of the orchestra was the identity of sound in each section. The homogeneity of the strings was especially striking, and even though the wind sections were not so clear-toned, they had a gutsy certainty that more than compensated. The one area that seemed capable of refinement was balance between sections.