I cannot recall writing a review basking in glorious sunshine, and that despite Owain Arwel Hughes’ impassioned plug for this event a few weeks ago when he predicted rain!

Nothing daunted, loyal BSO supporters braved the scorching sun to make this near-capacity Sunday afternoon fund raiser (with everybody giving their services for free) a rousing success under the direction of Rui Pinheiro.

Soloist in Grieg’s Piano Concerto, Peter Jablonski’s resounding opening chords, mellow subtleties and skittish exchanges authoritatively dispatched the first movement. Pinheiro’s smoothly-paced introduction to the Adagio conveyed an affection which Jablonski naturally embellished with fetching beauty. The distinctive finale with glorious harmonies and virtuoso solos made the happiest conclusion.

It is fast becoming a BSO ‘war-horse’, yet Pinheiro took the reins of Saint-Saens’ Symphony No3 and, in an electrically-charged performance, gave the finest account I’ve heard in the Lighthouse. No mean feat and as much down to giving due weight to the organ (Chris Dowie) as his own finely judged dynamics. From the early stillness Pinheiro balanced the threads with exemplary clarity and when the organ’s lovely, solemn harmony emerged the effect was magical. The finale, with a panoply of brass and percussion challenging the organ, was absolutely magnificent.

The brilliance of the BSO strings in Dvorak’s Carnival Overture set the festive atmosphere that no-one wished to end, least of all the composer!