THE latest Stroud Symphony Orchestra concert saw another full house at Holy Trinity Church on a near freezing, but thankfully dry, evening. With a programme of French repertoire prepared, the concert was preceded with a performance of La Marseillaise and a minute of silence to remember those affected by the recent tragic events in Paris.

The programme began with a rousing performance of Berlioz's 'Overture Les Franc-Juges', before conductor Jonathan Trim welcomed soloist Alexander Soares to the stage to perform Ravel's 'Piano Concerto in G', a concerto deeply infused with jazz idioms and harmonies. The audience were treated to a dazzling performance, with Soares' hands moving so fast at times all you could see was a blur of movement.

After the interval came a firm favourite with many of the audience, 'Organ Symphony No. 3' by Saint-Saens. Although not a true symphony for organ, but simply an orchestral symphony with two sections out of four using the organ, there is no doubt that the organ brings a majestic quality to the work and in the setting of Holy Trinity the organ and orchestra resounded impressively around the church.

The retiring collection was made on behalf the charity School-in-a-Bag that delivers rucksacks filled with stationery, learning resources and eating utensils to poor, orphan, disadvantaged and disaster affected children around the world.

* * * * * Review and picture by Ben Green