Bacchanale at the Dorford Centre, Dorchester: Dorset County Orchestra Autumn Concert

An inspiring concert at the Dorford Centre last night

Totally immersed in the music. No distractions, as in this Metropolitan Opera production of Samson and Delilah (YouTube). "The Bacchanale comes from the final scene of the opera in the Temple of Dagon where the Philistine priests dance wildly. The term Bacchanale refers to a drunken revel, and the music is suitably exotic and exciting" (programme note).

Luckily the interval drinks were non-alcoholic. I enjoyed a glass of refreshing elderberry wine.

Congratulations to all the musicians involved, especially the conductor, Arturo Serna, and the soloist,  the outstanding young cellist Joe Pritchard (Haydn's Cello Concert No 1 in C).


If you enjoy athletic choreography as part of French opera, try this 'Orientalist' example from a production of Rameau's Les Indes galantes ( Les Sauvages)