Love Lost and Found

Bath Symphony Orchestra

Wiltshire Music Centre

By Reg Burnard

A quite skillfully constructed programme really did embrace its title but, probably more significantly, demonstrated how this orchestra is progressing under Eugene Monteith.

Debussy’s Prelude to the afternoon of a Faun, full of the composer’s rebellious nature, was refreshingly robust and confident and highlighted the orchestra’s woodwind section, particularly flautist Sue Stephens.

Monteith kept the emotion rolling ever onward in Wagner’s Prelude and Liebestod, from Tristan und Isolde, but the hidden jollity of the piece was also there. His lack of histrionics and his somewhat measured manner makes me think he rehearses meticulously.

They are, obviously, not “professionals” in the true meaning of the word but this performance was bordering on that. Attention to just one or two little things - the odd trailing end, the odd split note and players wandering on and off stage during the interval - would make a great difference.

And so to the gem of the evening: A selection from suites 1 and 2 of Prokoviev’s Romeo and Juliet.

A big orchestra is needed and the resulting “big” sound is magnificent. And so it was on the night: Massive well-drilled brass, seething bass, soaring strings and striking percussion.It was all there and a fine end to an evening of which the BSO can be proud.