Lynn News
Tuesday, July 16th, 2002

Norfolk Symphony Orchestra/James Stobart/Richard Harwood
Corn Exchange, King's Lynn : Sunday, July 7th, 2002

"GREAT! Great! Great! This thrice-repeated word sums up the Norfolk Symphony Orchestra concert at Lynn Corn Exchange. Great music! Great playing! Great concert!

Dvorak's Cello Concerto made up the first half, with 22-year-old Richard Harwood as soloist. He is widely regarded as one of his generation's leading musicians, having been described as the best cellist since Jacqueline Du Pré. On the evidence of Sunday's performance, I certainly would not dispute this. His impressive technique and clarity of fingering brought out the lyricism of the solo writing with superb tone, while the orchestra, conducted by James Stobart, accompanied sympathetically as the conductor drew from his forces every nuance of the composer's rich orchestration. The repeated calls and tumultuous applause brought Richard Harwood back to give an encore, the unaccompanied Sarabande, by J.S. Bach.

Schubert's Symphony No. 9, appropriately subtitled The Great, made up the second half. The standard of playing improves at every hearing and this was evident as James Stobart drew from them playing of a high order and commitment to achieve the results that he desired. The final movement required the utmost concentration from all the forces as the work was brought to its conclusion, with both players and audience exhilarated and exhausted. Particular praise must be accorded to various sections of the orchestra for their solo passages, with the strings underpinning the whole orchestra in the final movement with the almost endlessly repeated triplets."

David Johnson