Stand in delivers the goods

THE New Year concert by the Toyota Ireland sponsored National Youth Orchestra was to have been conducted by En Shao, former principal conductor of the Ulster Orchestra. Unfortunately, late last month he sustained: an eye injury and his medical advisers counselled withdrawal from the NYO's concert and the training course which preceded it. Out of misfortune, however, can come good, and the orchestra found a more than worthy substitute in Andrew Mogrelia, conductor in residence at the Birmingham Conservatoire.

Whatever the reason or combination of circumstances - Mogrelia's experience with young musicians, the particular blend and balance of players in the NYO's current lineup - the orchestra was sounding in finer fettle than I've ever heard it before. Collectively, young musicians are often overly excitable, but Mogrelia gave the impression that his was a calming influence, capable of creating a sense of easeful space where, without the rush of adrenaline, time could be found for more of the responsive listening that produces responsive playing.

This is not meant to suggest that the playing was in any sense honourable but dull. Oddly enough, the orchestra, managed a greater sense of musical drive and purposefulness than the soloist, Michael d'Arcy, in the first movement of the Tchaikovsky Violin, Concerto. Happily, following the quite extraordinary licence he allowed himself in this already dangerously over long movement, he settled down in the central Canzonetta and was in rattling form for the finale.

Mogrelia's handling of Shostakovich's Tenth Symphony; was, in the best sense, musicianly, avoiding any camping up of a work which, in spite of its stark earnestness, totters along the borders of overblown vulgarity. And the players of the NYO responded in kind and with an abundance of well taken and often finely shaded solos.