Page 215 - Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Coverage Book 2023-24

page is testament to the camaraderie of this band of brothers and sisters. With the help of
an informative script presented by Stephen MacKay, himself a former MYO bassoonist, the
programme not only paid homage to the orchestra’s tradition but also allowed everyone to
take part who wanted to (including all 17 flautists).

Rattle himself conducted the current Youth Orchestra (plus a couple of discretely placed
senior fillers) in the overture to Mozart’s The Magic Flute: the first work performed at the
MYO’s inaugural concert in 1951 under its founder William Jenkins. Rattle took a tempo
that was not too challenging for the young players, allowing for a spirited, characterful
account.

Then it was the turn of the former MYO members to take over, including Rattle himself as
second sleigh bell shaker, led by the indefatigable octogenarian Timothy Reynish, their
principal conductor from 1975-83. They romped through Elgar’s Cockaigne with elegance,
dignity and a nice degree of rumbustiousness.

Sir Simon Rattle returns to the percussion section
© Gareth Jones
A few of the current youth orchestra members then returned for the party piece of the
concert, in the shape of the West Side Story Symphonic Dances, under Clark Rundell, truly
in his element. Drive and energy were balanced by lyricism and sweet sorrow, and Sir
Simon exercised a few more of his percussionist muscles in the Mambo.

The second half was given over to weightier matters. Shostakovich’s Tenth Symphony was
the first work in which the teenage maestro-to-be took the baton to conduct the MYO. The
wisdom of years has done nothing to dim his youthful enthusiasm. Needing no further
invitation, each member of the orchestra played as if their life depended on it. The