Kingston Chamber Orchestra conducts masterful musical triumph

Kingston University’s Chamber Orchestra delivered a captivating performance on Saturday night in the first of only three annual performances.

Led by seasoned conductor Andy Meyers, 50 talented musicians took to the stage and stunned the audience at All Saints Church with music from a host of classical symphonies.

The programme was a carefully curated selection of classical pieces which displayed the variety and depth of the orchestra, starting off with Overture: Cosi Fan Tutte – which Meyers described as Mozart’s most mature and sophisticated opera.

It was a beautiful beginning to the show, where every musician played with an energy and passion that was contagious.

The undisputed highlight of the night was a stunning solo performance by pianist Simone Alessandro Tavoni, whose rendition of Felix Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in G minor showcased his mastery of the instrument.

The audience sat in captivated silence as Tavoni’s fingers glided effortlessly across the piano keys as he delivered such a complicated and delicate work of art, but the church erupted into a lengthy standing ovation as his performance concluded.

Opera enthusiast Brian, 64, who didn’t wish to give his surname, described the performance as “world class”.

“I’ve seen a fair few orchestras perform in my time, and this sits at the top with the very best. If I closed my eyes, I could have been at the Royal Albert Hall listening to the London Symphony Orchestra,” he said.

What stood out most was the way the conductor interacted with the audience. Conducting for the Kingston Chamber Orchestra for over 30 years, Meyers proved to be an engaging and entertaining host, providing insight and backstories into the composers behind each piece.

Complimentary wine and beverages were also provided for the audience during the break.

Students who are not familiar with the classical genre have another opportunity to witness the orchestra play their next performance at the same place and time on July 8, with free tickets available for Kingston University students.