Oriflamme Amnesty Concert 2025, ‘A Wonderful Evening of Mozart’ St Mary’s Church, Warwick, Saturday 11 January, 2025

Consistent praise heaped on the woodwind sections of local orchestras is well deserved. Last Saturday two outstanding principal players emerged from the shadows into the spotlight.  Lindsey Martin, principal flautist with Warwickshire Symphony Orchestra and Aoife Dudley, principal oboist with Beauchamp Sinfonietta made sure the annual Amnesty International fund raising concert at St Mary’s Church was a huge success.

Lindsey’s stunning dark blue velvet dress contrasted with her now trademark silver shoes as she tacked Mozart’s Flute Concerto in G Major of 1778. The patient wait, as the lengthy orchestral introduction led by Alistair Kennedy flowed, was rewarded with Lindsey’s confident start at a steady pace before embarking on the delightful second movement -  adagio, which bears a resemblance to the well-known Strauss composition of 1766, the Blue Danube Waltz. Did Mozart borrow a theme or two?  Finally the rondo gathers pace as Lindsey showed exactly why praise is heaped on those wind sections.

Aoife’s talents extend beyond oboe playing as she enjoys both violin with Leamington Sinfonia and singing, too, with the chamber choir Commotio in Oxford. Her expressive rendition of Mozart’s Oboe Concerto in C Major was a highlight of the Amnesty International concert; she maintained firm control of the exhausting work all times, taking her time to drain the instrument with care between movements.  Playing with feeling is the best way to describe her efforts; she even managed to make the rondo – a Classic FM favourite – a thoughtful occasion and gorgeous memory.

Fresh from her recent concerts with the Claudel Trio in Kenilworth and Coventry, Da-Hee Kim challenged the St Mary’s Church Bechstein grand  to deliver the bell-like tone or “bloom” associated with these excellently designed instruments.  Her performance of Mozart’s Piano Concerto in D Minor received the warmest reception of the evening,  delivering sublime flowing arpeggios and a stunning coda in the romanze before the customary cadenza of the last movement heralded the jubilant finish.

Conductor, Antoine Mitchell received valued support from his small string sections; flute and oboe colleagues of Lindsey and Aoife delighted to find their instruments in the spotlight.