MUSIC REVIEW: MUMS Symphony Orchestra's Festive Concert - Cosmo Rodewald Concert Hall, Mancehester.
Manchester University Music Society (MUMS for short) performed their last concert of the year yesterday at their home inside The Martin Harris Centre a part of Manchester University's sprawling central complex. Calling it a 'festive concert' however was something of a misnomer. Three full orchestral works were performed, none of which had anything to do with Christmas or the festive season at all! Not that truly mattered since we were totally immersed in the wonderful music in any case! Starting with Aram Katchaturian's Spartacus Suite No 2 (who's first movement is the famous 'adagio') we were transported to a mid-20th century Russia with ease and skill. Following this and we stayed with Russia but going back in time only by a couple of decades to listen to Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto no 4. Again, a striking and fantastic piece of music composition. Late Romanticism and early 20th Century music is my absolute favourite musical period, and so I was in...