Lithuanian Youth Symphony Orchestra, Daiva Martikonyte (conductor)

This large ensemble of young musicians, average age 14+, is now half way through a hectic tour of Sussex and London. The 80 minute concert of music from around Europe included some specially dedicated Lithuanian works and, from England, Elgar’s ‘Salut d’Amour’, in an interesting setting. Their repertoire favours the strings with a number of fine concertante works but the woodwind (especially Dziugas Sabonis on soprano saxophone), brass and percussion came into their own in the flamboyant showpieces by Ponchielli. They were joined in an encore by Daniele Daivis from Crawley who sang a modern arrangement of the ‘Ave Maria’.

St Paul’s Church, 15 August 2015

Rating: