National Youth Orchestra Launches New Year with High-Octane Performance
The National Youth Orchestra's Shimmer program kicked off 2026 on a high note, showcasing the ensemble's vibrant energy and impressive technical prowess. Conducted by Alexandre Bloch, the NYO tackled a diverse repertoire that spanned from Debussy to contemporary works.
Debussy's "Ibéria" provided an evocative soundscape, transporting listeners to sun-bleached Spanish streetscapes. Although Bloch kept his huge ensemble in control, some passages felt slightly overblown, with rhythms occasionally juddering. The first movement's sinuous scales often smudged, losing some of their delicate nuances.
The NYO's interpretation of Ravel's "Rapsodie Espagnole" was similarly nuanced, with the brass section taking center stage in a thrilling final movement that conjured celebratory release and sonic fireworks. However, earlier passages felt somewhat taut, lacking the necessary tension to truly ignite.
In contrast, two contemporary works allowed the ensemble to shine. Karim Al-Zand's "City Scenes" brought an infectious swagger, with its neon blare of brass and woodwind evoking a cheeky Artful Dodger. The orchestra responded eagerly, showcasing their new-found swagger in this brash and bold piece.
Anna Clyne's "DANCE," a cello concerto inspired by Rumi, offered a thrilling contrast to the earlier works. Inbal Segev's soulful cello singing was beautifully accompanied by the orchestra, which effortlessly shifted between courtly baroque and klezmer-inspired textures. The addition of Aki Blendis and Charlotte Shlomowitz, who each showcased their impressive technical skills, further elevated the performance.
The NYO rounded out their set with a spirited rendition of Rossini's "William Tell Overture," complete with an opening group riff that introduced the bassoon and tuba solos to great effect. This punchline, sung rather than played, served as the perfect encore, leaving the audience eager for more.
As the tour continues in Coventry and Nottingham on January 5th and 6th respectively, one thing is clear: these teenagers are flying high. With their impressive technical skills, musicality, and sheer enthusiasm, the National Youth Orchestra has launched a stellar year that promises to be filled with excitement and adventure.
The National Youth Orchestra's Shimmer program kicked off 2026 on a high note, showcasing the ensemble's vibrant energy and impressive technical prowess. Conducted by Alexandre Bloch, the NYO tackled a diverse repertoire that spanned from Debussy to contemporary works.
Debussy's "Ibéria" provided an evocative soundscape, transporting listeners to sun-bleached Spanish streetscapes. Although Bloch kept his huge ensemble in control, some passages felt slightly overblown, with rhythms occasionally juddering. The first movement's sinuous scales often smudged, losing some of their delicate nuances.
The NYO's interpretation of Ravel's "Rapsodie Espagnole" was similarly nuanced, with the brass section taking center stage in a thrilling final movement that conjured celebratory release and sonic fireworks. However, earlier passages felt somewhat taut, lacking the necessary tension to truly ignite.
In contrast, two contemporary works allowed the ensemble to shine. Karim Al-Zand's "City Scenes" brought an infectious swagger, with its neon blare of brass and woodwind evoking a cheeky Artful Dodger. The orchestra responded eagerly, showcasing their new-found swagger in this brash and bold piece.
Anna Clyne's "DANCE," a cello concerto inspired by Rumi, offered a thrilling contrast to the earlier works. Inbal Segev's soulful cello singing was beautifully accompanied by the orchestra, which effortlessly shifted between courtly baroque and klezmer-inspired textures. The addition of Aki Blendis and Charlotte Shlomowitz, who each showcased their impressive technical skills, further elevated the performance.
The NYO rounded out their set with a spirited rendition of Rossini's "William Tell Overture," complete with an opening group riff that introduced the bassoon and tuba solos to great effect. This punchline, sung rather than played, served as the perfect encore, leaving the audience eager for more.
As the tour continues in Coventry and Nottingham on January 5th and 6th respectively, one thing is clear: these teenagers are flying high. With their impressive technical skills, musicality, and sheer enthusiasm, the National Youth Orchestra has launched a stellar year that promises to be filled with excitement and adventure.
So, they had some issues with tempo control in Debussy's piece 
... like who doesn't? It's not like it's a new problem for orchestras or anything... 
Still, the NYO managed to pull off some pretty epic performances overall! And those contemporary pieces were 
. I'm loving the whole "new-found swagger" vibe from Karim Al-Zand's "City Scenes"... it's all about embracing your inner Artful Dodger, am I right? 
.
the national youth orchestra seems overhyped its performance was just okay i mean debussy's ibéria was pretty cool but the rhythms were kinda jarring and the brass section could've toned it down a notch, plus ravel's rapsodie espagnole felt like it needed more tension it was like they were holding back 
anyway, overall i'm still kinda underwhelmed by this whole performance 
... Like, who needs that much energy on stage? It's just too much for my nerves 
. I mean, I know some people will say it was 'high octane', but to me, that just means they're all buzzing around like hyperactive bees 
. And don't even get me started on the whole 'infectious swagger' thing - is that really something you want in a concert? Give me a calm and peaceful vibe any day 
. I'm still waiting for someone to come along and do a beautiful, soothing rendition of some Chopin nocturne... that's what I'd pay to see 
they totally killed it with all the different pieces! Debussy's "Ibéria" was so ethereal 
but yeah some parts did feel a bit overblown, like they needed to dial back the energy for a sec. on the other hand, ravel's "Rapsodie Espagnole" was pure fire 
and then those two contemporary pieces were just wow... karim al-zand's "City Scenes" had this super infectious vibe 
and anna clyne's "DANCE" was like whoa... the way inbal segev's cello singing shone through with that orchestra backing her up was pure magic 
i'm so hyped for their rest of the tour 
- it's all about growth, progression, and finding your own spark! I mean, they're not born perfect, but they're learning, experimenting, and pushing boundaries on stage. It's super inspiring to see how they tackle different pieces with passion and confidence. Reminds me of when we're starting something new in our lives - it's all about embracing the unknown, taking risks, and trusting that we'll figure it out as we go 
especially when they got to those contemporary works like "City Scenes" - that brass section was on point 
and Anna Clyne's cello concerto was SO moving 
. I love how the orchestra just vibed off each other, it was like they were having so much fun up there 
They might just blow us all away with their talent and enthusiasm.
. These kids are seriously talented, but what I loved most about the performance is how they owned it - you could tell they were having so much fun playing those pieces, and that energy just radiated out to the audience 
. And the thing that really stood out to me was how they balanced the old with the new - there's a reason why Debussy and Ravel are still timeless masterpieces 
and i'm still reeling from it!!! The national youth orchestra was literally ON FIRE 
. but what really got me was when they did anna clyne's "dance" it was like a whole different world 
... and those cellists were SO ON POINT 
. i'm literally hyped for their next show, who else is going? 
! And omg, Karim Al-Zand's "City Scenes" was EVERYTHING