Every section of the arena was completely full – no wonder we have to book so early to get a block of seats! A full arena of enthusiastic listeners made the experience all the more enjoyable.
‘Spectacular’ was the right description for the assembled performers – the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the military bands of the Royal Artillery and Coldstream Guards , the 120 member Royal Choral Society choir, the Royal Albert Hall organ in full flight and bass, tenor and piano soloists filling the stage – so many performers together is a trademark of Classical Spectacular, and how well they do it. And not only filling the stage, a troop of ballerinas spilled over into the Orchestra Stalls, treating us to the ballet (Tchaikovsky’s Waltz of the Flowers) and the Can Can. Plus the onmi-present multicolour Lazers, projecting moving patterns from the dome,round the balconies, to the stalls!-
The music programme included favourites like Handels ‘Zadoc the Priest’, Elgar’s Nimrod, Ravel’s Bolero, Strauss Also sprach Zarathrustra, Verdi’s Grand March From Aida, Greig’s In the Hall of the Mountain King, and many more. Exercise clapping our hands to the ‘Hornpipe’ and multiple choruses of ‘Rule Brittania’ and ‘Land of Hope and Glory’ to exercise our lungs on, made us feel very patriotic, and thinking that no other country participates in something like this. And as an exciting finale – Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, with tubular bells, kettle drums, thundering Muskets and Cannon fire by the Moscow Militia, shooting stars across the auditorium and fireworks from the balconies. And the stupendous finale with the conductor John Rigby rising into the air and balloons floating down caused everyone vow to return for another dose soon.
What a very enjoyable evening, with many delights and looking forward to the next visit !!!!-
Alan Boyd