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The Hansel and Gretel overture wove a magical spell which blossomed into the Dohnányi Variations, with the added glamour of Evelina Puzaite. How come there were any spare seats for a concert as charming as this? Happily, there were plenty of delighted children getting a taste for the BPO and the quality interval ice-creams.

Then came the great treat: Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake selection, as enjoyable as a large box of favourite chocolates. Did we miss the dancers? Not at all. Barry Wordsworth conducted brilliantly, without a baton but with great elegant swan-like sweeps of his arms. Christmas has come early!

Concert Hall, Brighton Dome, 11 December 2011
Rating:
Andrew Connal

This was a performance boiled down to basics; just a piano and a man who oozed charisma and talent. It’s easy to forget with all his ‘Grumpy Men’ antics that at his core, Wakeman remains one of the best keyboard players in the business and deserves respect, being (as he was) at the very apogee of Prog Rock and verged on being one of Bowie’s ‘Spider’s From Mars’. There were great anecdotes about his career, his numerous marriages and tales of touring. But the playing far out-shone any chit-chat. His fingers danced with a blend of ease and unadulterated joy across the ivories. Just superb.

Assembly Hall, Worthing, 10 December 2011
Rating:
Lee Stevens

The premature and extended applause echoed that of the very first performance. I wanted encores throughout this lovely, dramatic performance by a really sensitive orchestra: natural horns, small drum, and trombones who left at the interval. Allan Clayton (tenor) drew us into Berlioz’s strange, compassionate story of the Christ-child. Sarah Connolly and Roderick Williams sang the warm-hearted parents and Neal Davies convinced as both cruel Herod and the loving man who opens his door and saves the starving family. This youthful orchestra and their newly formed chorus responded so well to the nurturing direction of Sir Mark – Thank you!

Concert Hall, Brighton Dome, 10 December 2011
Rating:
Andrew Connal

Derry’s reunited, and still recording, Undertones have been celebrating their 35th anniversary by performing replica shows of their near-perfect pop-punk debut (original vinyl version, naturally). Radio DJ Paul McLoone has been filling singer Feargal Sharkey’s role for years, adding his own confident, amused persona to the group rather than aping Sharkey’s distinctive warble. The rest of the band were always the chief songwriters, and enjoyed reliving their youthful achievements as much as the grinning crowd. Sticking to the swift speeds of the originals, The Undertones careered onwards through all their classic singles and more. A wonderful, nostalgic celebration.

Concorde 2, 10 December 2011
Rating:
Stuart Huggett