Concert 2008

Brahms - Symphony no. 4
‘... the 1st movement had full-blooded strings, (who negotiated the high tessitura with confidence), and the horns and cellos majestically swept through their melodic lines. The slow movement had beautifully shaped melodic lines with both delicacy and passion, and the joyous 3rd movement had an exuberance echoing the Academic Festival Overture....This was Brahms at his glorious best, with a “throaty” Hungarian Dance string sound, a yearning flute and variations that had character and panache. A performance of true authority from
conductor Gerry Cornelius and the orchestra.’

Stravinsky’s The Firebird Suite
‘...the woodwind were in virtuosic form adding brilliant cascades to the strings in the Firebird’s dance. The Princesses were beautiful, dancing with wonderful wind solos, there was nothing to spoil the excitement of the demonic Infernal Dance. Everywhere, Stravinsky’s wonderful orchestration: shimmering, harmonious, menacing, was expertly portrayed. You can ask no more of any orchestra and conductor.’

Hertfordshire Mercury Jul;y 2008

Family Concert 2008
Paul Patterson's wonderfully evocative 'take' on the story of Little Red Riding Hood ...held the audience enthralled. Outstanding playing from the orchestra conveyed all the atmosphere, musical styles and quotations, while Matthew Sharp's story telling wove a magic spell over the audience... It was an entertaining, immensely enjoyable performance, and a real coup for the orchestra to have the internationally renowned composer in the audience'.

Hertfordshire Mercury March 2008

Walton's - Henry V "A Shakespeare Scenario" 2007
‘The Passacaglia – The Death of Falstaff was most beautifully and movingly played by the strings... selected passages were read to convey and illustrate the overall story... Oliver Le Sueur was outstanding... his narrative style and timing wove a spell over the audience. Every section of the orchestra rose to the challenge of this hour-long piece.

Hertfordshire Mercury June 2007

Concert, July 2006
The orchestra’s principal oboe Catherine Wild gave a ravishing performance of Mozart's Oboe Concerto. Beautiful phrasing, contrasts, technical assurance and a real sense of fun in the last movement brought the sunshine of the day into the hall. The 2nd Symphony finds Rachmaninoff at his glorious romantic best. There was a wonderful sweep to the soaring "blockbuster" melodies, and a sumptuous sound with the violins again in tremendous form. Terrific horn calls in the scherzo and wonderfully pleading wind solos in the slow movement, especially from the clarinet. The boisterous finale brought the symphony, concert and season to a blazing and successful close.

Hertfordshire Mercury

Family Concert, May 2006
Something new for these concerts was the inclusion of a talented young jazz singer, Danielle James. Danielle created just the right relaxed mood in "So in Love" by Cole Porter, and her lively performance of "I Got Rhythm" earned roars of applause. Gershwin`s first big hit "Strike up the Band" took the orchestra back into the realms of Show Business, with comedy, jazz and syncopation. Similarly in Cole Porter`s " Anything Goes " Danielle combined easily with a very enthusiastic and energeric orchestra. The concert was brought to a brilliant close with a performance of the Overture to Leonard Bernstein`s " Candide". The orchestra would , I`m sure, have gone home satisfied that they had greatly entertained an audience whose ages seemed to range from one to ninety-one! These concerts do a valuable job in making many children realise that classical music can be both exciting and fun.

Hertfordshire Mercury

Concert March 2006
It is easy to see why Hertford Symphony Orchestra has such a wide and enthusiastic following. Saturday's concert was brimming with adventurous music,skilful playing and a stunning performance by the Longford Brown Piano Duo with Poulenc Concerto for Two Pianos. Brahms Symphony No1. was an exhilarating finale where every demand for power or passion was met by these fearless musicians, to end a triumphant evening of spectacular music.

Hertfordshire Mercury

Mahler’s 5th Symphony November 2005
An orchestra needs to stretch itself at times to improve concentration, technique and stamina and the Mahler symphony, if not the whole programme, was ideal for this. Full marks to Gerry Cornelius and the orchestra for tackling this programme and succeeding admirably.

Hertfordshire Mercury

‘Kodaly’s Dances of Galanta
a performance which amply fulfilled expectations in the warmth and clarity of its sound and the strength of character which the individual dances possessed’

Hertfordshire Mercury, July 2005

Family Concert – “Last Night of the Proms”
‘the Hertford Music Festival was treated to a “Last Night”, with The Hertford Symphony Orchestra and conductor Gerry Cornelius in fine form… The conductor’s friendly and humorous introductions helped to create the overall atmosphere of enjoyment and fun. How exciting for the audience of all ages to hear such terrific singing and playing “live”!

Hertfordshire Mercury, May 2005

Robert Kiln Children’s Concert
‘These are not just concerts but truly colourful occasions. The hall abounded with ghoulish pictures, exotically costumed demons, monsters and ghosts in both the audience and orchestra. Musically, there were an enormous variety of sounds, styles and moods.’

Hertfordshire Mercury, Jan 2005

‘Tchaikovsky’s 4th Symphony
Scurrying semiquavers, jubilant climaxes and a triumphant ending concluded a persuasive performance full of contrasts in mood and dynamics.’

Hertfordshire Mercury, Nov 2004