Roman Carnival Overture - Berlioz
Piano Concerto No 2 - Rachmaninov
Symphony No 1 - Walton
The first public event in Derry's Millennium Forum Theatre and Conference Centre was a concert last Friday by the Ulster Youth Orchestra. This seemed an appropriate choice for an impressive building, expressing confidence in the future. Built neatly into the slopes between the city wall and the river, the centre is multi-purpose and already has a long list of varied events booked.
In that variety lies one of its main challenges. If the Millennium Forum is to be taken seriously as a concert venue, its staff will need to address the protocols of classical concerts. While this was not a typical occasion, it is unacceptable to allow, while music is being played, the constant unwrapping of sweets, consumption of crisps (true!), readmission to the auditorium and the banging of doors as people come and go.
Many of the strong points in this concert, the first of four to be given in Ireland and Britain, were rooted in the strong rapport between conductor Takuo Yuasa and the 86 or so players. Rhythmic life and precision were a good foundation for a lively account of Berlioz's demanding Roman Carnival Overture, and for the febrile energy of Walton's Symphony No 1.
But the most complete performance was of Rachman inov's Piano Concerto No 2, where conductor and orchestra had a compelling partner in the soloist, David Quigley. For a musician born in 1977, his performance was strikingly mature, driven by musical insight and by an under standing that this virtuosic music must seem not to strive.
The Millennium Forum's acoustic is better than many multi-purpose halls, although the sound is not blended and seems remote. Once one got used to it, its clarity had benefits, especially in revealing how the UYO's pleasantly muscular playing was achieved.