THE Ten Tors Orchestra recently presented us with the next in their Music for the Millennium concerts, this time in the delightful setting of St Peter's Church, North Tawton. The reputation of the orchestra had clearly preceded them, and the church was full.
They began with Handel's Overture to Alexander's Feast, which made for a confident start. This was followed by Mozart's Divertimento in F Major, a tuneful and sunny piece.
After two string pieces from Henry V by Walton, the orchestra was joined by the violinist Ken Aiso for a stunning performance of Bach's Concerto for Violin in A minor.
The first piece in the second half was the delightful Canon a trois in D major. Ken Aiso then returned to play two Spanish pieces, Tango by Albeniz and Sarasate's Introduction and Tarantelle, which depicts the frenzy of someone bitten by a tarantula spider.
The applause for this was such that he had to return for an encore, in which his violin imitated the sounds of Japanese flutes.
The evening finished with a performance of Britten's Simple Symphony, a piece of many moods, but chiefly exuberance. This was beautifully portrayed by this very fine chamber orchestra.
FELICITY BARNABY