King’s Lynn Norfolk Symphony Orchestra contact Homecoming at Alive Corn Exchange is reviewed by Andy Tyler

After hearing songs from many countries watching Eurovision it was refreshing to attend the Norfolk Symphony Orchestra’s concert, Homecoming, on Sunday, May 14, whose programme consisted of all British works.

A favourite piece of mine, Hamish MacCunn’s, Land of the Mountain and the Flood, an early work, premiered in 1887 to generally favourable reviews, started the concert, with it’s lively and tuneful character, and this was followed with Grace William’s, Penillion, a work I didn’t know, composed for the National Youth Orchestra of Wales in 1955.

It is a delightful suite, not including any Welsh airs but with traditional Penillion characteristics.

Grace was born in 1906 and died in 1977.

Fitting for the recent Coronation celebrations was William Walton’s famous Spitfire Prelude and Fugue, first performed in 1943, which concluded the concert’s first half, played with all the pomp and swagger required.

The concert’s second half included Vaughan Williams Norfolk Rhapsody No. 1, which includes songs the composer heard and collected in the North End of King’s Lynn in 1905.

The orchestra gave an atmospheric and authentic sounding performance, and the concert ended with a sensitive and well received performance of Britten’s famous Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra.

The concert’s conductor Steve Bingham created the clever, but amusing narration limericks, which were delivered by Jeremy Harmer with clarity and humour.

A truly entertaining interpretation of Britten’s masterpiece featuring all sections of the orchestra, well done. Alice Ruffle led the orchestra and the season’s main sponsor was Adrian Flux.

We look forward to the NSO’s next concert on Sunday, June 18.

Review by Andy Tyler.