After years of planning, a dream came true for a Grayshott woman when Beethoven's Symphony No.3 (Eroica) was performed in St Luke's Church last Saturday.

The occasion was Grayshott Concerts "Eroica" event, in association with Buy In Grayshott (BIG), performed by the New London Sinfonia under conductor David Gibson for an audience of over 300.

Concerts' artistic director, Vivien Harrison, was overjoyed. "Ever since our first concert in 2004, I've dreamed of putting on a Beethoven symphony, but there simply hasn't been enough room for the almost forty musicians needed. And now at last we've done it!

"With our new staging, St Luke's can now present much larger classical works by Mendelssohn, Schubert, Tchaikovsky and of course, Beethoven. It's so exciting."

The Eroica concert began with Mendelssohn's Overture "Hebrides", describing the composers visit to 'Fingal's Cave' in 1830, followed by an exhilarating performance of Mozart's lyrical Flute and Harp Concerto starring Adam Walker (Flute) and Sally Pryce (Harp).

"Absolutely fabulous, best event yet." said Grayshott Concert-goer David Barrett. "It was just wonderful" added Brenda McGurk,"I enjoyed every moment."

The Grayshott Concerts organisers are planning a performance of Handel's "Messiah!" with the Excelsis Choir in March 2010, and Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto next May.

But their next production in November is something completely different. It's a dramatic performance of one of the most famous of all ghost stories, "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens performed by the Strange Face Theatre company in half-face masks to portray the many weird characters in this seasonal Christmas drama.

'A Christmas Carol' is at 7.00pm on Wednesday 25th November 2009 at St Luke's Church, Grayshott. Tickets at £5, £10 & £15 now available on 01428 606666.

Review by Music Critic Ann Pinhey

The format for the New London Sinfonia's concert in St. Luke's Church on Saturday, 12 September, was one which was very popular many years ago, namely, an Overture, a Concerto and a Symphony.

The evening began with a delightful account of Mendelssohn's Hebrides Overture which was appealing and atmospheric, with an exciting storm at the centre of the work.

Mozart's beguiling Concerto for Flute and Harp was given a warm, yet sparkling performance. The interplay between the two soloists - Adam Walker, flute and Sally Pryce, harp – was fresh and sympathetic with a direct, unmannered style which sounded entirely spontaneous. Refinement and beauty of tone were the hallmarks throughout. The light, athletic flute was dominant over the rather reticent harp, yet both were imaginative in their individual phrasing. The most enchanting moments came when both soloists were on their own, weaving and intertwining with delicate tracery. At times, the accompaniment, though sympathetic, did not match this lightness and the harp was often inaudible.

Beethoven's Eroica Symphony is a truly powerful masterpiece in terms of imagination and scale. The conductor, David Gibson, expended an enormous amount of energy in tonight's performance. He immediately established his authority with the crisply, percussive opening chords, yet at times the music felt impersonal. There was ample power with heightened dramatic contrasts in the heroic scale of the first movement.

The sublime nobility of the Funeral March – a movement on a heroic scale – is at the heart of the work. It had a natural gravity at a steady, measured pace and conveyed the dark intensity of the movement. It was a dedicated interpretation but was a little laboured and lacked momentum at times.

The Scherzo, although rhythmically bouncy, did sound somewhat hectic. There was some confident horn playing in the Trio.

The Finale was thrustful and ebullient, almost a country dance. The string and woodwind articulation was crisp and clean. This was enthusiastic, committed music making and brought the evening to an exhilarating conclusion.