A sparkling performance in one of Rossini's less well-known overtures, in Tancredi, and stylish Mozart playing in the Haffner Symphony established the Mozart Orchestra to be on excellent form at Blakeney Church.

By FRANK CLIFF

A sparkling performance in one of Rossini's less well-known overtures, in Tancredi, and stylish Mozart playing in the Haffner Symphony established the Mozart Orchestra to be on excellent form on Saturday at Blakeney Church.

There was also sensitive playing of a very different style in Delius's On Hearing The First Cuckoo In Spring and Summer Night On The River. The odd fluff and a few balance problems, largely due I suspect to the resonant acoustic, were minor blemishes on what was a very high standard. Much of the credit for the well-disciplined playing must be due to conductor Colin Dowdeswell, who in a very short space of time has established great rapport with his players.

The orchestra's principal clarinet Keith Brown was a fine soloist in Weber's F minor concerto. Undeterred by a violent thunderstorm, he gave a spirited reading of the first movement even if phrasing was not always consistent and produced some lovely legato playing.

Ravel's Tombeau de Couperin found the orchestra in control of this sophisticated score in a performance notable for the fine playing of the principal oboe.