The Royal Forest of Dean Orchestra scored another successful
concert at the Baptist Church, Coleford, with another well chosen programme of
concerto, symphony and folk music. The Orchestra have enhanced their reputation
recently in performances with distinguished soloists invited to join them, and
this latest concert was no exception.

Simon Smith, the internationally famed violin virtuoso, and
Alex Kirk, the local Forest piano prodigy performed Beethoven concerti at the
last two RFODO concerts, and for their December event the orchestra were joined
by Kwesi Edman for the Cello Concerto in G, by Beethoven’s teacher Joseph
Haydn.

Kwesi is a London based teacher, conductor and performer in
many forms of music and other art forms, and he enjoyed a triumph performing
this spirited and vibrant piece with its richly graceful and lyrical second
movement.

Thomas Payne is now the Orchestra’s resident conductor,
having dropped the ‘guest’ from his title. RFODO have produced their best work
under Thomas’ direction, and his appointment as permanent musical director is
another step forward for this ambitious regional orchestra.

It’s impossible to talk about this conductor without using
the adjectives ‘youthful’ and ‘energetic’, and watching him at work one is also
aware of his great empathy with the orchestra, coaxing, encouraging, but most
effectively with a big smile which shows that performing great music can be
great fun. The partnership between conductor, soloist and orchestra was a great
feature of the cello concerto.

The first piece was a series of Romanian folk dances by
Bartok, with exotic sounds and haunting melodies on the flute. It was a brave
selection by the Orchestra to perform this less well known music, but they
carried it off well.

After the cello concerto and the interval, the Orchestra
reassembled with brass and percussion to give full value to Mozart’s powerful
and joyful ‘Jupiter’ symphony, and it was a tribute to Kwesi Edman’s commitment
and professional outlook that he joined the Orchestra after his demanding solo
performance to continue his contribution to the evening sitting among the
cellos.

The RFODO’s next performance is at St Peters Church,
Newnham, on 24^th March, 2012. As well as the Magic Flute Overture
and Brahms Symphony No 2, they are will be performing a trombone concertino by
Ferdinand David. I rather suspect that they might have signed up a brilliant
solo trombonist for the occasion.