Concert News  Nov 19th 2005

The Czech National Orchestra conducted by Paul Freeman, Dvorák Hall, Prague

 

The Czech National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Paul Freeman premiered The Colossus of Rhodes on the 19th of November to a full house in the Dvorák Hall in Prague.

The music (and the composer) was extremely well received and greatly appreciated by the Prague audience who showed their enthusiasm by asking the composer to sign many of their programs during the break and at the end of the evening. At the end of the performance the composer was presented at the stage with a bouquet of flowers and to an ovation from the audience.

The conductor Paul Freeman interpreted the score impeccably with a commanding control and steady flow of emotion. The climax to the piece was exhilarating and over-whelming, the sound bouncing off the perfect acoustics of The Dvorák Hall. It was interesting to note the positive reactions of an audience who had a total un-familiarity with the piece that they were listening to.

Seven Wonders Suite for Orchestra has proved that it has the ability to sound great in the studio and now has emerged as a wonderful concert work for symphony orchestra. In the hands of a great conductor and such a tremendous orchestra as The Czech National, this work will definitely find its way in the concert arena and hopefully in time, we will hear this work performed in its entirety and full splendour.

 

 

CNSO at The Rudolfinum

Conductor of the CNSO Paul Freeman

 

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