Beauchamp Sinfonietta, Holy Trinity Church, Leamington Spa, 21 April 2024

Bright sunny afternoons have been few and far between this year. Last weekend the sun did shine on the Beauchamp players for their two concerts – Grange Hall, Southam on Saturday afternoon and Holy Trinity Church on Sunday afternoon. With vivid memories of violinist Charlotte Moseley’s last appearance in 2019 when she played the Brahms’ violin concerto,  it was pleasing to see both concerts so well supported. This time her approach to Bruch’s violin concerto was splendidly focussed with impressive virtuosity whilst never allowing the pace to run away from her.  Her soon to be delivered baby was probably having some say in the determination of pace; Charlotte was happy to talk about womb movements at the interval! How very brave she was to tackle two concerts just twenty four hours apart. Her entrepreneurial talents were also discussed as she admits her dog and hooman apparel business “has gone crazy”.

Her 1884 Joseph Hel violin sounds simply wonderful; her huild up to the end of the first movement very moving with most delicate playing; soon to be followed by the build to an exciting climax with sympathetic support from conductor, Nic Fallowfield and the string desks.

Bizet’s  Symphony in C, full of felicitious youthful charm - he was just 17 when he composed the work - gave the Beauchamp’s wind sections a chance to shine.  Oboes in the hands of Aoife Dudley and Emma Williams were played with such distinction throughout this lovely work, conducted from memory by Fallowfield. Fine wind instrument playing in the  sprightly first movement continued in the beautiful slow movement before  this bright and very musical work ends with a well controlled climax. Leader, Sue Meteyard deserves a special mention as she demonstrates the inherent warmth of the work through her leadership of her keen string players.

Lalo’s utterly charming Deux Aubades “morning songs” show what a fine craftsman Lalo was as his understanding of the needs of the orchestra is clearly evident. With a reduced chamber group these delightful sketches were a well chosen post-interval inclusion before the Bizet and the Carmen connections detected in the last movement.  Sunday afternoon with Beauchamp was one of their most accomplshed concerts.