CHRISTOPHER SMITH The new professional Chamber Orchestra Anglia under conductor Sharon Andrea Choa launched its inaugural gala programme, at the Forum, with Haydn's Midi Symphony.

CHRISTOPHER SMITH

The new professional Chamber Orchestra Anglia under conductor Sharon Andrea Choa launched its inaugural gala programme, at the Forum, with Haydn's Midi Symphony.

The acoustic was unkind to the upper strings, attenuating their tone, and liveliness and clarity of line did not compensate for some intonation problems.

Though Brahms' First Serenade also had vigour, interest flagged in its long succession of movements.

Following up each of these works with poems by Kris Siefken showed initiative, even if their relationship with the music was an enigma.

Selecting the emotional passion of Schoenberg's Transfigured Night as the final item was an excellent idea. But it was wrecked by noises off, footsteps and doors opening and closing, and offering any comment would be unfair.

Irrespective of its qualities as pure architecture, the Forum did not prove an ideal concert venue.

There were complaints about uncomfortable seats, draughts and queues for lavatories. Sight lines were bad and the entry of the players down the great staircases was both portentous and rather too like the start of a Parkinson show.