REVIEW Masters of Baroque: The Nelson Symphony Orchestra under Mick Dowrick. Nelson School of Music, Saturday, March 26. Reviewed by Michael Monti.

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At first glance, Masters of Baroque appeared to be an odd title: only two obvious works from that period, plus one piece written last century and another just two years ago.

A closer inspection showed clever connections.

The concert started with Handel's Music for the Royal Fireworks, written in 1749 to accompany a fireworks display in Green Park, London.

The work is predominantly for wind band, and the orchestra's wind and brass sections feature throughout. They were bright, cohesive and well-balanced; and while large string sections were not required in these times, I did feel that the violins on Saturday night were a little light.

New Zealand-born Craig Bradfield is a rarity, a bassoon soloist. Now resident in Auckland, he has played in orchestras and military bands in various parts of the world over many years.

Vivaldi wrote a number of concerti for bassoon and orchestra among his prolific repertoire. Bradfield showed off his mastery of this complex instrument. A beautiful slow movement was bracketed by versatile fingering and range in the faster movements.

Anthony Ritchie, who was born in Christchurch, wrote his French Overture while studying in Paris.

The work adopts the structure of a French baroque overture with successive slow, quick and slow movements. We were reminded of the noises in the narrow lanes, a snatch of cafe music, and finally a timpani solo which drifted off to the skies.

Pulcinella was written by Stravinsky as a ballet in 1920, based on themes by the Italian Baroque composer Pergolesi. It was later revised as a much shorter orchestral suite of eight movements.

In each of these, various sections of the orchestra, well directed by Mick Dowrick throughout, were featured. I particularly enjoyed the stuttering trombone solo.

Saturday night's programme was well received.

I look forward to their all- Beethoven programme at the end of May.