“The ever-ebullient Mark Taddei pointed out that a theme of this concert was youth….Orchestra Wellington performed Suk’s Serenade for Strings well, capturing different moods and tempi convincingly: sunny and lyrical in the first movement, lilting and merry in the second, soulful and romantic in the third, and energetic and playful in the fourth…That there was an almost full audience despite the attraction of election night results testifies to Orchestra Wellington’s popularity.”
“It may have been election night, but there were the usual 2000-plus patrons present for this long and eventful concert…And then there was the programme proper; three works of some substance, none of which figure in concerts very often…The work suits Taddei and his orchestra, and they finished a long night with some brilliant playing.”
“…this was always a moment I’d considered special, but on this occasion one that infused me with incredible joy and excitement at having experienced a kind of long-awaited fulfilment of the music’s promise! – unforgettable!”
“…the hushed singing of the Introit et Kyrie, the beautiful unaccompanied passage for altos and tenors at the opening of the Offertoire, and the floating quality of the soprano sound for the final In Paradisum were highlights of this performance.”
“…all three works were played with skill, precision and drama. The Tchaikovsky ‘Serenade’ was directed with great affection – and without score – by Taddei.”