Orchestra of the Swan, “Elements”, including a world première, Warwick Hall, Thursday 20 March 2025 By Clive Peacock

Earth, Air, Fire and Water are the electrifying elements that Orchestra of the Swan’s Artistic Director, David Le Page selected for the orchestra’s most recent concert.  Electrifying by virtue of his capacity to thrill, excite and, at times, shock his audiences. Never was this more evident than the opening long “terrible” chord of the Le Page arrangement of Rebel’s Le Chaos from Les Elémens. 

Dave Gordon at the harpsichord received fine support from the double bass players whilst Le Page led the excellent five first and second violin players. This dramatic seldom heard work began  what proved to be a very varied and compelling evening. 

From Le Chaos, Le Page took his audience to L’autumno, the third of Vivaldi’s four concertos that make up The Four Seasons.  A sparkling allegro retained Gordon at the harpsichord, for the adagio molto, the second movement, he moved to the Steinway grand. By the third movement, another allegro, the double basses had taken control with their own very capable ‘Bartok pizz’.

Dave Gordon is best known as an outstanding jazz pianist; a jamming session at the 606 Jazz Club with saxophonist, Tim Whitehead led to a commission by OOTS to create a development opportunity with students at the Warwick Schools Foundation.  With Gordon’s hand written scores spread across the Steinway music stand, Whitehead was given the nod by Gordon to lead the three young sax players, percussion and string players in the most entertaining interplay between the adults and their young charges. Whitehead showed a special talent in his capability to create a connection with young musicians and, in so doing, establish an interaction of ideas. This world première has many miles to run; the Whitehead skill, the enthusiasm of the young sax players and the care to ensure a softer xylophone tone by using vibraphone mallets all contributed to a mighty successful launch.  What next? A recording, a streamed video?

A feverish Iain Farrington arrangement of Manuel de Falla’s Ritual Fire Dance continued the elements theme with Conductor, Rebecca Miller engineering one of the OOTS characteristically enthusiastic finishes. Finally, Debussy’s La Mer with beautiful harp, solid French horn and tons of loud trumpet playing ended a brilliant night.

Clive Peacock