“The first half of the concert consisted of works by The Willoughby Symphony’s 2018 Composer-in-Residence Nigel Westlake who also conducted…
Next we heard Antarctica: Suite for Guitar and Orchestra in four movements , with soloist Andrew Blanch. In the first movement – The Last Place on Earth – the harp was like ice dripping .Blanch on guitar had a hypnotic electrifying , tense solo at times with a zither like sound . The Orchestra then crashes and rumbles like ice splitting and breaking off , there is a turbulent, whirling discussion between the guitar and Orchestra followed by a crystalline solo for Blanch on guitar the Orchestra delicately accompanying him.
The second movement is entitled Wooden Ships , where we can imagine the arrival of humans at the mercy of the environment , featuring a striking , melancholy solo for Blanch and featured mini solos for flutes and violins with a lyrical guitar solo .The third movement – Penguin Ballet – was joyous and playful you could see the penguins waddling , wriggling , sliding etc in a sharp staccato march .The final movement The Ice Cave created an immediate chilly atmosphere full of glacial beauty and there were possible Asian influences to Westlake’s music . You could see the whirling stars. Blanch on guitar had a translucent solo .Rolling crashing drums and sharp , staccato strings drove us relentlessly to the sudden finish.”
Review in Full: Flight: Part of the Willoughby Symphony Series