RSPB Spring Concert

TONY COOPER

Snape Maltings

This valuable wildlife organisation showed the way of involving nature and music at this well-appointed concert hall on the banks of the river Alde and close by one of the country's largest bird sanctuaries - Minsmere.

On stage, projected images of two gannets and a white-tailed eagle gloriously in flight served to show what the evening was all about.

Non-RSPB members were, I feel, in a minority but after the performance of the Beethoven violin concerto by David Oistrakh (celebrating his 75th anniversary year), a packed house showed their appreciation with thunderous applause, taking in three curtain calls.

He was superbly accompanied by the City of London Sinfonia under the direction of Harry Christophers who was also present with his own group, The Sixteen, to add a touch of vocal colour.

And you couldn't get better than Gluck's Orfeo and Euridice in perfect harmony!

Counter-tenor Robin Blaze, as Orpheus, produced clear vocal passages that were just a joy to listen to, while the love of his life, Euridice, was sung superbly by the soprano Lucy Crowe.

And members of The Sixteen (turned 18 for this concert) produced bright, clear and thrilling tones for their supporting role as nymphs/shepherds and furies/spectres.

As I left the Maltings overlooking the reed-beds, the sound of birdsong was everywhere.