KICKING off the Hamilton Symphony Orchestra’s (HSO) annual concert at the Hamilton Performing Arts Centre on Sunday September 11, was a spirited overture by English composer, Arthur Sullivan, ‘The Pirates of Penzance’, preceding a carefully selected repertoire by conductor, Angus Christie.

Infused with classics from Handel, Tchaikovsky, Dvorak, Strauss, Verdi and Mozart, the program also featured compositions from contemporary Melbourne based composer, originally from Glenthompson and childhood friend of Mr Christie, David Cundy.

Mr Cundy not only composes but is an accomplished arranger and musician of multiple instruments including the organ, piano and harp, and according to his website said his focus is on contemporary classical music as a means to listening pleasure.

Indeed, his trio of compositions were a pleasurable listening experience with an andante lullable melody befitting of its title, ‘Dreamland’, featuring the bassoon, oboe, and flute, interrupted by a soaring animandosi refrain in ‘Impennata’, completed with an appassionato ariata, ‘Daffodils’, sung by Port Fairy soprano, Leah Oswin.

The second piece was the first of two compositions by Ken Stott performed by the HSO, which featured Geoff Kilminster on the double bass in ‘Ibizan Sunset’.

Following the ‘March of the Mastersingers’ by Wagner that featured Peter O’Keeffe, Anne Kristin Christie and Leanne Barber on percussion, was a melancholic piece, ‘Gnossiene nr 1’, featuring Tamara Joukoff on cello, before the end of the first part of the concert was appropriately demarcated by Tchaikovsky’s ‘Finale from Symphony 5’, that changed pace from andante maestoso in E major to allegro vivace in E minor and finished in E major.

After the interval, a ‘Soldier’s March’ from Faust livened up the pace, featuring the symbols followed by three movements in Ken Stott’s ‘Limestone Suite’ switching from allegro to andante to moderato, with Georgina Farrugia on tuba while the violins picked their way through andante pizzicato.

A lively polka by Czech composer, Smetana, called the ‘Peasant Dance’ from the Bartered Bride, a comic opera, preceded a well-known violin concerto, ‘Humoresque’ by Dvorak, performed by the orchestra’s concertmaster, Tim Hallam.

The next two pieces were composed by the Strauss brothers; the first by Josef, was a comic version of ‘Fireproof Polka’ that required percussionist Leanne Barber to don personal protective gear, helmet, goggles and gloves as she beat an anvil with hammers.

The second was by brother Johann, another comic piece again featuring soprano, Leah Oswin, who changed outfits for ‘Mein Herr Marquis’, from Die Fledermaus.

Next, lyric baritone, Craig Everingham, returned to the stage having performed Handel in part one, to sing ‘Di Provenza’ from La Traviata by Verdi, in part two.

The two singers joined up to thrill the audience with none other than Mozart’s ‘Crudel! Perche finora’ from The Marriage of Figaro, replete with costumes for the comic routine portraying the unrequited romance.

The final piece was a surprising and delightful contemporary choral piece sung by The Hamilton and Alexandra College Chamber Singers called ‘I am the Earth’, written by Glyn Lehmann - an emotive clever and imagined, environmental dialogue between the earth and the world’s children. 

Mr Christie was one of three original members including Ken Cameron and Judy Hill who founded the Hamilton Symphony Orchestra about 18 years ago and said he was thrilled with the HSO’s most recent performance.

“I selected the pieces of music for the concert I thought would appeal to everyone in the audience,” he said.

“Some classics and old favourites everyone would enjoy.

“Hamilton Symphony Orchestra is an orchestra for the community by the community.

“We’re so very fortunate to have so many talented regional musos and composers in the district.

“We’re definitely going from strength to strength.”