Viennese Concert

New Year's Day

Kidderminster Town Hall

KIDDERMINSTER and District Lions Club were responsible for organising the New Year's Day concert, and what a success it was.

The Midland Concert Orchestra, led by David Joyce and conducted by Jonathan Hill, provided a rousing start with the overture to Die Fledermaus, which was followed by the waltz Roses from the South, both by Johann Strauss II.

The soloist in the first half was Tim Barber, who took up the trumpet at the age of 11. He gave a fine rendition of Hayden's Trumpet Concerto.

Johann Strauss II's Thunder and Lightning Polka brought the first half to a close.

The first item after the interval was the overture to Franz Lehar's Merry Widow, and this was followed by three items from the second soloist, Stephanie Lamplough.

The Laughing Song from Die Fledermaus was followed by Vilja from The Merry Widow, and, also by Lehar, On my lips every kiss is like wine.

Stephanie was both a delight to look at and to listen to - she so obviously enjoyed singing, and this was readily conveyed to the audience.

In the final part of the concert we were treated to Emperor Waltz, Champagne Polka, The Blue Danube, Pizzicato Polka, and Johann Strauss I's Radetzky March. The Trisch-Trasch polka was the encore.

Proceeds from the concert will be donated to a breast cancer charity in memory of Judith Horton.

AO