Dave Smithson

The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra entertained us with a wonderful performance of a Summer Serenade at Halewood Leisure last night along with a choir of children from Halewood C of E and Plantation primary schools.

However, for the best review of the evening’s entertainment I am indebted to the Rev Alan Jewell for the following account of the evening, produced for the log of the Halewood Culturefest!

Rev Alan Jewell said -
The words that come to mind are from the Ferrero Rocher adverts: “You’re really spoiling us!”

The CultureFest fortnight has produced any number of treats and tonight was right at the top of the tree. There’s something remarkable about sitting in the sports hall at Halewood Leisure Centre with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra right in front of you. (I’m grateful to the Mayoress of Halewood for getting me such a good seat!) Those who have been part of the steering group from the beginning will know that having the Phil as part of CultureFest was really something of a happy coincidence, but we were very happy to take them under the CultureFest banner.

The orchestra, led by Thelma Handy and conducted by Ian McMillan, romped through a selection of summer favourites - light and popular pieces: the ones with tunes you know. (I write as someone whose exposure to classical music is more or less limited to Classic FM. It occurs to me that this is the first time I’ve actually been to a concert with a real orchestra. No offence, Knowsley Youth Orchestra - you were fantastic - but you know what I mean.)

With the orchestra assembled and looking resplendent in white tuxes and summer frocks, Ian McMillan bounced into the room in a shirt that probably ought to be licensed as a lethal weapon and which should not have been worn in a built-up area for fear of frightening the horses. Describing the venue as “an raid shelter” might not have been the best way to win over the audience, but McMillan’s enthusiasm and larger-than-life personality certainly did the trick. You can’t accuse him of taking himself too seriously: he refers to the RLPO as “the band” and introduced ‘Summer’ from the Four Seasons (Quattro Stagioni) as being from the ‘four cheeses’.

If you weren’t there, you probably won’t believe what McMillan made happen during the evening. In the second piece he had us doing aerobics and ballet movements (proving that conducting an orchestra is harder work than you might have thought) and in the second half he had our lovely Mayoress, Dot, up on the rostrum and conducting a polka (apparently proving that conducting an orchestra is something that almost anyone can do. McMillan left the room for most of the piece and our Dot did a marvelous job, increasingly getting into the role and enjoying herself. McMillan later accused her of nicking his stick).

The second half also saw the orchestra joined by children from Halewood CE and Plantation Primary Schools. I don’t know what proportion of the audience were family and friends of the children in the choirs but I’m sure they were all immensely and rightly proud of them. Children produce a sound that you just don’t get anywhere else and which reaches the parts that nothing else does.

We also enjoyed a ballet suite based on the tunes of Arthur Sullivan and then McMillan had us singing along to Jerusalem to bring the programme to an end. Then we were treated to a rousing encore: Ron Goodwin’s music for the film 633 Squadron, before we were allowed to go home and enjoy our Horlicks.

Another wonderful evening. Do you want to know my definition of an orchestra? More instruments than you can shake a stick at (unless you are Ian McMillan or the Mayoress of Halewood).
© Rev Jewell