November 7.

Since its formation in 1988, the Saltus Concert Society has played a quietly modest role in furthering the appreciation of live classical music in Bermuda as well as providing a valuable platform for some of the Island's younger musicians.

Saturday's concert, under the direction of William Duncan was no exception and, as is often the case, gave the St. John's audience a welcome opportunity to hear two of the Island's specialist music teachers taking centre stage as soloists in works by Mozart and Crusell.

Menhuin Foundation teacher Kerry Haslam was the soloist in Mozart's 4th Violin Concerto in D major. This is one of five written by the composer when he was only 19 and while it is not one of his most famous works, it has all the hallmarks of Mozart's genius. There are also some excruciatingly difficult solo passages which Kerry Haslam handled with assured competence. The Andante Cantabile, rather low-key but as melodious as anything that Mozart ever wrote, gave way to a sparkling and dancing Rondo.

Mr. Duncan's 20-piece, hand-picked orchestra of local players, was of high technical quality and under his sensitive baton, gave a wholly satisfying account of Mozart's magic.

The rafters of St. John's then resounded with the stirring sound of Music for Four Trumpets. Under the direction of teacher Alan Furness, students Lesley Hobbs, Tarik Smith and Matthew Davies revealed the versatility of this instrument in a delightful, if brief 16th century piece by de Lassus and two Hunting Songs and Fanfares by 19th century composers Brahms and Wagner.

Mr. Furness revealed the wonders of the cornet in another 16th century piece, Canzon Cornetto, pointing out that while nothing has been written for this neglected instrument for the last 200 years, it was, and as we could now appreciate, very popular in its day.

Soprano Jacqueline Hobbs, who holds the Performer's Diploma from the Royal Schools of Music, sang five songs that, while modestly delivered, revealed fully her sweetness and purity of tone and ranged from the German of Richard Strauss, Schuman and Mahler to two Italian songs, including Puccini's well-known "O My Beloved Father'', rather oddly translated from the Italian on this occasion as "Oh, Dear Daddy''. Alan Furness revealed a talent for composition in his Entracte, from a suite entitled Bermuda Shorts, which was beautifully performed by his Brass Ensemble. This was followed by music from the incomparable Purcell, this time in sombre mood, in the March and Canzona written for Queen Mary's funeral at Westminster Abbey in the 1690s. Finally, this excellent ensemble played three pieces from The Danserye, written in 1551 and now familiar to modern audiences as suitably authentic background music for movies dealing with the Tudor era.

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the evening was the marvelously melodic Concerto in F minor for Clarinet by Crusell, played by Saltus woodwind teacher, Lisa Wyatt. This very symphonic piece, which features several solo passages for the flute and oboe, presents some wicked musical gymnastics for the clarinet, but Lisa Wyatt sailed blithely through, with a bright and brilliant sound that also had some intensely lyrical moments. Superbly supported by an alert and sympathetic orchestra, this was an outstanding performance. -- Patricia Calnan.

LISA WYATTA: Outstanding.