Tonbridge School’s Symphony Orchestra ‘was a tour de force’

Tonbridge School’s Symphony Orchestra delivered an exceptional performance, presenting two iconic works by Russian composers from the Moguchaya Kuchka – the Mighty Handful, an esteemed group of composers located in St. Petersburg in the 1860s.

The concert opened with Mussorgsky’s ‘Night on a Bare Mountain’, a vivid musical portrayal of the Witches’ Sabbath at Bald Mountain on St John’s Eve, orchestrated by Rimsky-Korsakov.

The main work of this orchestral concert was Rimsky-Korsakov’s dazzling symphonic suite, ‘Scheherazade’, inspired by One Thousand and One Nights. Each movement evoked tales such as Sinbad’s Ship, The Kalendar Prince, The Young Prince and Princess, and The Festival of Baghdad.

Mark Forkgen said, “The programme was a tour de force for the Symphony Orchestra. Scheherezade makes great demands of the performers as musicians and instrumentalists – it tests an orchestra’s ability to create different colours and sound worlds as well as the virtuosity of its principal players. The performance was a testament to the orchestra’s dedication, teamwork and enthusiasm for the music.”

An audience member said, “It’s hard to believe that there is another school orchestra in the world who could perform as well as that.”