Philharmonic Orchestra thrills

Barrington Flemming, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:Music lovers in Montego Bay were treated to the scintillating sounds of the Philharmonic Orchestra of Jamaica at the St James Parish Church last Sunday.

The one-year-old orchestra, led by musicologist and one of Jamaica's top choral conductors, Franklin Halliburton, thrilled with its spring concert series repertoire, which included the Nyabinghi Symphony, composed by assistant professor of music and director of choral activities at the Northern Caribbean University, Dr Andrew Marshall.

"We want to use this medium to express the soul of Jamaica, and we are taking it all across Jamaica to expose the people, some of whom would not have had the opportunity to hear this," said Halliburton.

Dubbed Musical Delights, the concert opened with a full orchestra selection titled Sym-phony in D by Chevalier de Saint. Other pieces, especially the L'Arlesienne, IV Farandole, also received excellent reviews, from the audience.

The R'VAA Woodwind Quartet, featuring Rafael Salazar on clarinet, Vincent Hawthorne on bassoon, Althea Neblett on oboe, and Albert Hird on flute, excited the audience with a rendition of Sonatine, MVT1 by Toshi Nagata.

The renowned Anna Strachan was at her best, her smooth soprano voice soaring effortlessly as she delivered two arias: Ave Maria - from Caccini - and Poor Wandering One from The Pirates of Penzance.

The Marley Symphony included Redemption Song and Natural Mystic and created the perfect synergy for the next offering.

Oboist Althea Neblett transported the audience to a place of peace with her impeccable performance of Astor Piazolla's Oblivion.

The Philharmonic Orchestra of Jamaica and the Northern Caribbean University Ensemble then presented the Nyabinghi Symphony, the high point of the event.

The Nyabinghi Symphony performed four selections which stirred and titillated the audience, which called for an encore.