Concert Review: Birdsong – Fantasia Orchestra with Soprano Elizabeth Watts

Fantasia Orchestra, joined by the marvellous soprano Elizabeth Watts, presented Birdsong - a beautifully curated concert celebrating nature, the passage of time, and the subtle spectacles found in the world around us.

Held in the atmospheric setting of St John’s Smith Square, the performance felt special. The hall’s elegant architecture and warm acoustics created an appropriate backdrop for a set of pieces that wondered between delicacy and emotional depth.

Originally, the soprano was supposed to be Lucy Crowe, who unfortunately had to withdraw last minute due to illness. Stepping in with remarkable resilience was Elizabeth Watts, who delivered a performance sounds so polished and graced audiences with expressive clarity that it was hard to believe she stepped in only the day before! Her effortless tone, poise, and musical awareness is a powerful testament to her talent and professionalism.

The evening opened with “Spring” from Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, a well-known and loved piece that worked wonderfully as a musical awakening. It echoed the first blossoms of the year, and set a bright, joyous tone for the rest of the evening.

Among the orchestral highlights was Messiaen’s “Amour oiseau d’étoile” (The lovebird of the star), which was playfully brought to life through the flute’s vivid mimicking of a birdsong, creating a sense of unusualness and captivation.

Watts and the orchestra brought serenity and atmosphere feel to “She’s Like the Swallow”, arranged by Harry Baker, who arranged a few of the pieces in the programme, and here allowed the melody to bloom with a sense of novelty and colour.

The London premiere of Kavuma’s I Am the Sea, felt extra special with the composer being in attendance. The piece transcended with texture, and when the full ensemble blended and surged it felt climactic and so exciting.

The first half closed with “Frühling” (“Spring”) from Richard Strauss’s Four Last Songs. This placement was intriguing,representing a line between rebirth and mortality, which resonated within the concert’s theme of time passing. This piece was delivered with warmth and emotional honesty, making it a moving endpoint to the act.

Later in the programme came the addition of “Autumn Leaves.” This fun jazz- like arrangement offered a charming contrast, and a clever nod to the movement of the seasons, as explore the seasons with the orchestra, from the concert’s opening of “spring” towards fall. This piece brought much joy and carefree, a pure moment of musical playfulness.

The evening concluded with “A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square,” by Sherwood, which was a perfect final touch to the concert. After music filled with birds, nature, and the time evolution, ending with this nostalgic classic felt warm and quite magical. The nightingale’s song, metaphorical and pure, encompassed the concert’s heart.

Birdsong was an evening of beauty, pureness, imagination, and sincerity, brought to life by the Fantasia Orchestra and Elizabeth Watts’s tremendous, last-minute triumph.