Do you think of a brass band when you hear the word trumpet? I’m here to tell you that this instrument offers so much more. She Society recently visited the Concert Hall, QPAC for a wonderful performance by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra which focused on, you guessed it, trumpets. Terrific Trumpet took us to a jazz club in France, to the heights of the Scandinavian mountains and dramatically lured us back into a Shakespearean tragedy, all in one day.
Conducted by the effervescent Finnish conductor, Tarmo Peltokoski, who was named Music and Artistic Director of the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra at just 22, we were treated to a rousing morning. The Queensland Symphony Orchestra enjoyed playing the dramatic Romeo and Juliet which at times gave me goosebumps. It was terrifying and made my heart jump in the middle, but thankfully, for this romance writer, the piece ended on a romantic note. The whole nineteen minutes gave the audience all the feels.
Rainer Saville is the new principal trumpet with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and has enjoyed an illustrious career both here and overseas, as a soloist and member of orchestras and ensembles. He was brilliant in his solo performance of French composer, Henri Tomasi’s spectacular trumpet concerto. Tomasi wanted to showcase this versatile instrument ( which rarely gets a starring role) with the influence of Bach, jazz and drama which took us on an emotionally uplifting journey. Lastly our conductor took us to his homeland with Sibelius’ Symphony No. 2, which was seen as a rousing call to Finnish independence. In the first movement it was uplifting with mounting crescendos and dramatic tension as the work unfolded.I love watching Phoebe Russell and the double bass section and they crept in hauntingly in the second section.
Sibelius’ third movement has layered strings and a lilting oboe solo, before you are shocked to sitting straight up in your seat as the brass chimes in.The whole orchestra worked together with the trombone and timpani leading us to the rousing crescendo, with our enthusiastic conductor leading the way.
I had not known what to expect from today’s concert but my guest summed it up best by leaning over and whispering, “ Well, that was fun!”
Yes, it was joyful and fun.This sentiment seemed to echo through the concert hall as the happy concert goers exited after an exciting and exuberant morning of music. Next weekend is a concert you won’t want to miss when the Orchestra plays the QSO Favourites with two concerts on Saturday 24th June. Feel the music this winter with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra.
Michelle Beesley is a Brisbane born and bred former primary school teacher. A wife, proud grandma and mother of three grown sons, Michelle is thrilled to have recently published her debut contemporary romance novel, It Happened in Paris, with Serenade Publishing. Her novella – Escape to D’ Amour was published in 2019. Michelle’s work can be found in the anthologies – Destination Romance and Short & Sweet. When not reading or writing Michelle can be found at a coffee shop chatting with friends, front row at a fashion show, or beside a rugby union field cheering on her favourite teams.
Michelle is a reluctant traveller, Francophile, keen walker and avid yoga enthusiast plus a book, film and theatre lover who loves everything pink and sparkly (including champagne). You can find Michelle on instagram @michellebeesley_writer and her website: michellebeesley.com.
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