Inject capital into Symphony Orchestra- British Conductor

Accra, Dec. 13, GNA- A British International Symphonic Orchestral conductor, Dr Roy Wales on Saturday called for injection of capital into the National Symphony Orchestral for it to champion African composers on series of world classics.

He said the orchestra's unique rendition of the African music with western classical musical instrument blended with African musical pieces, needs to be promoted wider.

Dr Wales was speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Accra after he had lead the Orchestral and a mass Choir to stir the emotions of classical music enthusiasts through authentic new spirit of the G. F. Handel's collections that left the audience gasping for more at the end of the show.

The concert dubbed, "Handel's Messiah 2003," characterised by double performance of the soul inspiring Hallelujah Chorus, which received deafening and standing applauses from the audience made up of a cross section of Ghanaians, the Diplomatic Corp, the academia and chiefs.

Dr Wales said the future direction and perspective of the NSO, depends on three things, funds to maintain and train the players, continuous development of the youth training programmes and a good conductor.

He said continuous financial support from government and other stakeholders enable the NSO to maintain a high orchestral standard, and professionalism as well as maintain qualified players and keep the instruments in shape.

He said: "Maintaining an orchestra is an expensive venture that requires massive investment in strings and other logistics and called for an assistance for the orchestral."

He also emphasised the need for an orchestral conductor, who is different from choir conducting education programme for youth in classical and orchestral music in the country.

To sustain the orchestral, Dr Wales called for the development of links with educational institutions especially the universities for demonstrational performance to enable the youth opportunity to interact and develop the enthusiasm in the field.

Dr Wales said the Orchestral, needs to engage a good resident conductor, acquire new instrument and a higher Public Relations and Marketing outfit.

Dr Wales said his recent show in the country, the British International Conductor said the NSO sounded at times like an European orchestral, stressing that European orchestral would always maintain good sounds with fine tune intonation.

He said he would come again to Ghana for another show.

He said a good conductor should have the power of persuasion, energy, enthusiasm, and very disciplined.

Dr Wales recently entertained classical music enthusiasts, who thronged the National Theatre over the weekend, could not hide their cheers as the rejuvenated National Symphony Orchestra backed a mass choir and stirred their emotions through authentic new spirit of the G. F. Handle's collections that left the audience gasping for more at the end of the show.

The performers under his magic baton held the audience spellbound throughout the three hour show with a good rendition of "the Overture" "Comfort ye my people (Tenor Arai)," "Pastoral Symphony," "And lo, the angel of the Lord (Soprano Aria)" and "Rejoice greatly, o daughter of Zion (Soprano Aria)".

The dexterity of the members of the orchestra, the angelic voices of the Choir and the sweet scented voices of the soloists crowned a night of beautiful performance, whilst the costume of both the choir and orchestra and their artistic rhythmic motion added musical tonic to the show.

The performers displayed great artistic masterly on the various classical musical instruments of the Flutes, Xylophone, Violins, Bassoon, Horns, Trumpets, Trombones, Timpani, Cellos, and the Double Basses which made the audience to sing along while others could not help but had to respond with gestures to the infectious effect of the rhythms in their seats all through the show.