RIGHT from the first notes of Beethoven’s Egmont Overture under the direction of Rui Pinheiro it was clear that the Pavilion soundstage had been transformed. Later confirmed by the regular M.C. for these events, Petroc Trelawny, that Bournemouth Borough Council had ‘shelled-out’ for an acoustic screen that enables the BSO to project a cohesive range of decibels.

We cannot expect a recreation of the glorious Winter Gardens’ sound, but this enhancement is a very significant improvement.

There is now only the need to temper the unaccustomed ‘improvement’ to the ventilation system!

Enjoyment was never more apparent than in the playing of Richard Horsford in Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto. This full-throated, lilting performance on a basset-clarinet completely immersed us in immortal music; unsentimental in the outer movements yet imbued with a romantic sheen in the lovely Adagio.

This Oktoberfest reflected its Germanic associations with Bach’s Air on a G string, the Prelude and excerpts from Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel; music suffused with that beautiful ‘Evening Hymn’ tune, and Weber’s wonderful Overture: Der Freischutz. Here Pinheiro conjured up a superb atmosphere with four horns making a marvellous impression, although not included in the actual opera!

Rounding off this musical feast; Wagner’s Overture: Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg capitalised upon the Pavilion’s new found sound.