Hundreds of music lovers started 2015 with a spring in their step from the uplifting New Year’s Eve Viennese Gala performed with sparkle and a sprinkle of humour by the excellent Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra.
Sweet-toned and powerfully expressive Portuguese soprano Susana Gaspar received a warm ovation for her fine contribution, the highlight of which was her strong interpretation of Kalman’s Heia!Heia! In Den Bergen from The Gypsy Princess. It displayed both reflection and fire and had the audience clapping along.
The orchestra showed its full range of talents from punchy brass playing to delicate harp from Deian Rowlands on an exhilarating performance of Von Suppé’s marvellous Overture Poet And Peasant that opened the concert.
It was a sparkling aperitif for some of the familiar treats that followed, including an intoxicating Champagne Polka and a helter-skelter Tritsch-Tratsch Polka.
Principal cello Peter Adams distinguished himself with sensitive playing on the solo in the beguiling Romance For Cello And Orchestra No 1 by Johann Strauss II.
On such an afternoon of delightful waltz rhythms it was fitting that the captivating Miss Gaspar gently swung us into the New Year with I Could Have Danced All Night as a well-appreciated encore.
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