On previous visits to Brighton, the Bournemouth Symphony has programmed some unusual or challenging music and consequently attracted small audiences. So very sensibly this concert consisted of well-tried and tested popular classics. Yet still the punters didn’t come, which was most disappointing.

The chief work was Grieg’s much loved Piano Concerto with Freddy Kempf as soloist, who is well-known locally. His playing may lack the diamond-like precision of some Russians who have recently played at the Dome, but he makes up for it with his musicality and ability to make the piano sing. A pity the orchestra didn’t support him as well as he deserved.

Truth to say there was some lacklustre playing under the direction of the young and comparatively inexperienced Rui Pinheiro who carries the title of Young Conductor in Association. Mendelssohn’s overture Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage is a rarity these days so perhaps needed a bit more rehearsal time. Finlandia wasn’t as overwhelming as it should be. But things looked up in Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet overture while there was polished playing in the final item, Grieg’s Peer Gynt. The strings sounded well in the Death Of Ase and everybody had a good time in that ultimate pot-boiler, In The Hall Of The Mountain King.