Concert raises £420 for Cavernoma Alliance

Saturday's concert, featuring music by Mendelssohn, Mozart and Gounod, has raised £420 for the Cavernoma Alliance UK charity

In its first public concert for more than two years, the Portsmouth Philharmonic put on an impressive show at its Church of the Resurrection home venue in Drayton, which delighted its loyal audience.

Orchestra conductor Hugh Carpenter said:‘It was a relief that we were at last able to perform in public and I thought the orchestra excelled itself. The Mendelssohn, in particular, is a real challenge for any amateur orchestra and the Mozart had a good dynamic range and a sense of vitality throughout. The Gounod was quite a departure from our normal repertoire, but we played it really well.”

The concert opened with a stirring rendition of the Ukrainian national anthem.

The orchestra's next concert in on Sunday November 27 (3pm) at the same venue, and will feature Bruch's Violin Concerto No 1, with Catherine Lawlor the soloist. Ticket details will be announced nearer the time.