LAUNCESTON'S City Park came alive with the sights and sounds of classical music last night for the annual Symphony Under the Stars concert. About 8000 people turned out to see conductor Guy Noble lead the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra in a stellar, polished performance. In a wonderfully light-hearted moment, the talented orchestra launched into the Fawlty Towers theme song - a cheeky nod to An Evening with John Cleese under way next door at the Albert Hall. Shortly afterward, Tasmanian-born violinist Katerina Nazarova lead the orchestra in a stirring rendition of Waxman's Carmen Fantasie. Front and centre for the unique performance was mother-daughter duo Myra Davidson and Cherise Cunningham. Ms Davidson said the pair made it their mission to return to the event each year. ``To think this is little old Tassie and here we are watching an A1 performance,'' Ms Davidson said. ``With the crowd that's here and the atmosphere created, it's just such a special experience.'' The seasoned concert attendees came prepared with a spread of pizza, chips, chocolate, biscuits, champagne and tea. Further afield for the evening performance was Amanda Bendt and Scott Murdock, who soaked in the music from the comfort of a freestanding two-person hammock. Ms Bendt said she wasn't too concerned with seeing the concert, and was instead more interested in enjoying the sounds. ``I'm also a bit of a people watcher, so relaxing back here works perfectly for me,'' she said. The first-time concert attendee did suffer with picnic envy after getting a glimpse of the extravagant offerings of a neighbouring group. ``They had fresh fruit, cheese, dips, the whole lot,'' she said. ``I really wasn't prepared in that department this year, but I'll certainly know for next year.'' Persistent rain plagued the Hobart instalment of the concert earlier this month, with the performance brought to an abrupt halt after interval. Launceston enjoyed much finer conditions, with clear, starry skies over City Park.
LAUNCESTON'S City Park came alive with the sights and sounds of classical music last night for the annual Symphony Under the Stars concert.
About 8000 people turned out to see conductor Guy Noble lead the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra in a stellar, polished performance.
In a wonderfully light-hearted moment, the talented orchestra launched into the Fawlty Towers theme song - a cheeky nod to An Evening with John Cleese under way next door at the Albert Hall.
Shortly afterward, Tasmanian-born violinist Katerina Nazarova lead the orchestra in a stirring rendition of Waxman's Carmen Fantasie.
Front and centre for the unique performance was mother-daughter duo Myra Davidson and Cherise Cunningham.
Ms Davidson said the pair made it their mission to return to the event each year.
``To think this is little old Tassie and here we are watching an A1 performance,'' Ms Davidson said.
``With the crowd that's here and the atmosphere created, it's just such a special experience.''
The seasoned concert attendees came prepared with a spread of pizza, chips, chocolate, biscuits, champagne and tea.
Further afield for the evening performance was Amanda Bendt and Scott Murdock, who soaked in the music from the comfort of a freestanding two-person hammock.
Ms Bendt said she wasn't too concerned with seeing the concert, and was instead more interested in enjoying the sounds.
``I'm also a bit of a people watcher, so relaxing back here works perfectly for me,'' she said.
The first-time concert attendee did suffer with picnic envy after getting a glimpse of the extravagant offerings of a neighbouring group.
``They had fresh fruit, cheese, dips, the whole lot,'' she said.
``I really wasn't prepared in that department this year, but I'll certainly know for next year.''
Persistent rain plagued the Hobart instalment of the concert earlier this month, with the performance brought to an abrupt halt after interval.
Launceston enjoyed much finer conditions, with clear, starry skies over City Park.
Solo violinist Katerina Nazarova and conductor Guy Noble
