Badenoch welcomes top-notch string quarter at RSNO ‘taster’ recital
Could Badenoch and Strathspey see Scotland’s national orchestra heading this way soon for a special performance? The omens were good this afternoon at Newtonmore’s ‘trial’ run.
There was a warm welcome for a superb string quartet who pulled up in the car park at Newtonmore Grill to perform some stirring Danish works.
When we say ‘car park’, they were comfortably staged in it - as was a virtual full house - in the beautifully-appointed Screen Machine, which was perfectly situated for some post-show coffees and cakes in the Grill.
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra want to gauge the popularity of their music in the strath and laid on today’s special show in the hope of getting some interesting feedback.
To begin with, the turnout at the Screen Machine was very encouraging and the applause rang out for each piece the quartet played, ‘Wood Works’ and ‘Last Leaf’.
There was huge appreciation for the players: first violin Patrick Curlett, second violin Robin Wilson, viola Beth Woodford and cello Robert Anderson.
The audience were welcomed by principal trumpet Christopher Hart, who invited everyone to a Q and A session in the Grill afterwards where the coffee flowed.
But first the audience were treated to the Screen Machine at its best: a filmed performance of the full orchestra’s magnificent recording of Holst’s glorious Planet Suite.
We hope to have good news to report soon on progress with plans to bring the orchestra - or at the very least a sizable section of it - to the strath as a result of today’s taster.
