What’s On: Nova Foresta Classical Players, St Thomas Church

LYMINGTON was treated to a stunning Proms concert in St Thomas Church. Despite the concert clashing with a certain football fixture, the church was packed to capacity.

The Nova Foresta Classical Players are resident in Lymington, and this concert raised the roof. Starting with Haydn’s Trumpet Concerto, Dave Bertie, the orchestra’s principal trumpet, delivered a lyrical and sensitive rendition of this piece, balancing perfectly with the orchestra’s subtle textures under clever direction of conductor Phil Daish-Handy. The audience were then on their feet for a joyous rendition of Land of Hope & Glory and Jerusalem.

Nova Foresta Classical Players is a professional chamber orchestra, based in the New Forest. Founded in 2017 by Philip Daish-Handy and Martin Penrose, Nova specialise in music from the Baroque, Classical and Romantic Eras, in particular the music of Sir Edward Elgar.

Aptly, the first half finished with the national anthem of Great Britain. Elgar’s Enigma Variations headlined the second half of the concert. Here was where the orchestra shone most brightly. Daish-Handy’s charismatic and passionate direction seemed to inspire the musicians, and Elgar’s finer details were clearly realised.

The finale had excitement and energy which at its conclusion had the entire audience on their feet. A truly joyful night for Lymington.

DS