PROMS AT ST JUDE’S – REVIEW BY DAVID SONIN
Gala opening night with the Southbank Sinfonia conducted by Simon Over.

Saturday June 17^th  

Programming of concerts at local festivals and music societies is sometimes viewed as being too comfortable with organizers taking a safe route with the knowable and the popular.

It is a measure of the Proms’ maturity that the new and adventurous will not only entertain listeners but challenge them too.

So it was when Simon Over brought to Central Square a work from Keith Burstein , a contemporary master of tonality. That it was also a world premiere performance was also a benchmark for the Proms ,  too.

Described as a Concerto for Orchestra , The Splendour of Light certainly permitted all sections of Over’s youthful ensemble to flourish and project a sound palette that sparkled with energy.

Burstein is also a master of imagery and it is a piece that sounds as if it would fit a cinematic view of a river passing through a great city – though the Thames seems to be what the composer had in mind.

Clear and lucid writing captivated the ear and the performance was as affectionate as one could wish.

There was no aura gulf between Burstein’s work and Mozart’s Linz Symphony………

Hampstead & Highgate Express

"The sensational injection concert life so strongly needs today" 

On Eternal City ," a spectacularly doomy piece for massed brass , all heart - bursting chords and cascading scales"

Classical Music Magazine

"messianic , mystical , visionary"

"Prophets are , of course , famously disregarded in their own land." 

Independent Magazine

"the music rotates gently on an axis of largely consonant harmonies,lifting stray phrases high above the main architecture(some lovely work outs for solo trumpet)." 

Whats On

"Burstein's music in memory of John Smith was powerful dignified and beautiful"

The Standard

"Burstein is an ardent new romantic" 

The Telegraph

"His music is little short of alchemy"

"Rather than worrying about where music is going,he should concentrate on composing his best deepest thoughts ,and in a language which best suits them.Take heed Mr. Burstein."

The Sunday Times

"A fatal blow to the dinosuars of atonal music"

The Guardian

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All music is copyright 1989-2006 by Keith Burstein and may not be used for commercial purposes without the author's consent.

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