Reviews

“The outer movements brimmed with adrenalin-drenched passion”

“The well-known ‘big tune’ which appeared at times earlier in the work was anticipated well and never fails to stir. The orchestra relished the moment and the real sense of satisfaction that comes with the build-up to a huge climactic cadence.”

“Conductor Nicholas Concannon Hodges and Todmorden Orchestra – a true community orchestra – have a reputation for exploring music realms seemingly undreamt of by the UK’s great professional orchestras.”

“Energetic or delicate the orchestra moved with the complexity and variation of mode expressed across the music throughout the four movements and, as is noteworthy of all their public performances, did credit to themselves, their conductor, their audience and the town.”

“It spoke as a massive and ambitious climax to the evening. This was crucially aided by a most accomplished wind section and a gloriously fulsome brass section.”

“It ended with a glorious blaze from the whole orchestra before the final gentle gesture. All in all, quite an evening and the Dvorak was greeted, as it should be, with delight.”

“A fine year of first-class music-making can be anticipated, and I urge listeners of live music to continue supporting this remarkable orchestra.”

“The orchestra were well up to form and this was obvious from many a quiet detail as well as the moments of rapturous upheaval.”

“The orchestra’s leader is Andrew Rostron and he came under spotlight in one of the Strauss songs and more extensively in the Rachmaninov. In each instance his violin was burnished in tone and registered clearly.”

“The orchestra handled the transition from the calm, pianissimo and flowing, to the bright, lively and forte peaks and troughs of the different movements with notable delicacy and technical control.”