Outstanding Joint Concert with the Jugendsinfonierorchester Stuttgart (JUSO) – Iwaki Auditorium 18 August.

A sellout audience was delighted with the joint concert of the Jugendsinfonierorchester Stuttgart, the Melbourne String Ensemble and the Loreto Symphony Orchestra at the Iwaki Auditorium Friday 18 August, 2006.

The concert, which was heavily promoted through 3MBS, SBS Radio and local news media attracted strong audience interest. The concert was preceded by a generous reception hosted by DaimlerChrysler and local performances at Loreto Mandeville and Melbourne Grammar, two of Melbourne’s leading schools.

The concert commenced with a crisp and well articulated performance of Bernstein’s Candide Overture.

This was followed by an exceptional presentation of Gershwin’s Concerto in F for Piano and Orchestra. The young soloist, Erwin Nanasy was a revelation, as he gave a flawless performance which drew the highest accolades from an appreciative and enthusiastic audience. This was a highlight to be treasured from the evening.

The Loreto Symphony Orchestra followed after interval with an accomplished performance of Vaughan Williams Overture to the Wasps.  Ninety four string musicians from the three orchestras were then conducted by Alexander Scherf in a finely crafted performance of Barber’sAdagio for Strings.

The concert concluded with the unique experience of one hundred and twenty young Australian and German musicians performing selections from Suites 1 and 2 of Bizet’s L’Arlesienne. This seemed a veritable sea of musicians who, under strong direction from Alexander Scherf, delivered a memorable finale to what was a very successful concert.

Congratulations to all the performers, to their outstanding young soloist Erwin Nanasy and to Alexander Scherf and his colleagues Olaf Muhlenhardt and Lisa Nessling who prepared their young charges so well for their Australian tour.

A reminder to all our subscribers that the concert was recorded and will be available on CD within the next few weeks (orders through contactus@mse.org.au).

Recordings available on CDs shortly