NORTH Yorkshire’s renowned community orchestra which gave its first concert in 1995 certainly pulled out all the stops for this celebratory performance.

Under the guidance of conductor and founder Xenophon Kelsey, it performed Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture with live cannons, Bruch’s famous Violin Concerto with one of the most popular and celebrated soloists, Tasmin Little, and assembled an orchestra of more than 100 musicians and 40 singers for The Planets Suite.

Needless to say this attracted a capacity audience, but perhaps most encouraging of all was the remarkably high standard of performance in all three works.

The 1812 Overture began with some vibrant lower strings and superbly rasping brass in a performance that was both moving and stirring with the sound – and smell – of the Sealed Knot Society’s two cannons adding extra excitement.

Tasmin Little’s performance of the Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1 was exquisite, the violin at first soaring and romantic, then gentle and tender and sweetly expressive throughout, framed and supported by some finely controlled orchestral playing.

As Holst’s suite The Planets had been played at the orchestra’s first concert it was very appropriate to include it again, not least because it’s such a challenging and wonderful showcase.

Even from the opening, Mars, there were vivid contrasts and swift changes of mood; Venus’s calm was exquisitely controlled, and in Jupiter it was good to hear the tune of the anthem I vow to thee, my country in its original context, while the off-stage wordless chorus in the final Neptune, particularly effective in the cathedral, was stage managed perfectly.

The orchestra’s next concert is on March 4 at Holy Trinity Church, Ripon; tickets from 01765 677413.

Peter Bevan