Growing Together

Vorisek in the North Downs,
heard by KEITH BRAMICH

'Tatsfield Growing Together', proclaimed in large letters on the outside wall at the back of the village hall, and, inside, an official plaque on the chair in front of mine, reading 'Sam, the Black Labrador', are both indications of a proud countryside community, this one in a corner of the English county of Surrey, but bordering London and Kent. Tatsfield is very rural, and an extraordinary place (as others have said before) to find such a high quality orchestra, giving two concerts a year, using mostly local amateur players, but also importing a variety of soloists and conducting talent.

Last night's event (10 May 2014) was unusual in being entirely home-grown — both violin soloist and conductor were regular members of the orchestra. Jon Maynard, who (according to gossip heard at the back of the hall beforehand) had driven from Leamington in an Aston Martin to conduct the concert, is normally one of the orchestra's three flautists, and Dave Jones, violin soloist in two of Vivaldi's Four Seasons concertos, leads the second violins...

ERIC COATES

ANTONIO VIVALDI

GEORGES BIZET

JAN VACLAV VORISEK

ENGLAND

ORCHESTRAL MUSIC