2011 Wessex Winter Contest
Adjudicators' Remarks - Saint-Saens Variations
Order of play: 18, Placing: 10th
Captain David Barringer:
Good confident opening which is rhythmically secure. Balance not always secure at 47.
108. You make good use of marks of expression and this has drive and purpose. We lose the perc at 194 but you regain the ensemble quickly. 267 is confident but again I don't always get the lead line. Some tuning issues at 283 in Flug/Hrn.
308 Nice ensemble sound and soloists are confident. 321 Odd moment of intonation and we lose a bit of tempo.
328 meanders a bit and you don't always expose the important lines in the music - I think there is more music to be found in this section. Watch the tuning to close.
360 feels a bit under tempo but is technically secure. Few slips before 430. 446 Troms tend to overblow a bit here.
508 is effective (minim = 80) is a bit up and this takes away from the Maestoso - and the accel into the vivo. Good confident close.
Overall a polished performance of a piece you clearly enjoy. Well done!
A well chosen test piece that is generally well delivered today. In the main you have projected good tonal quality and avoided overblowing! A great pity about the poor start - the performance grows in stature as it progresses. Well directed throughout by an MD with a clear understanding of the music.