REVIEW: Aberdeen's Christmas soundtrack delivered by RSNO

You know what pressure looks like? It looks like singing Walking In The Air at a Christmas concert marking 40 years since The Snowman film was released, with Aled Jones sitting watching you.

But young soloist Sophia Mashwani knocked it out of the park in this special evening at the Music Hall in Aberdeen – and Aled was simply beaming as she hit every note perfectly.

Mind you, the audience was all smiles, too. But then, why wouldn’t you be at the return of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and its cherished Christmas Concert – an event that for many people marks the real start of the festive season?

Let’s get Christmassy – the RSNO delighted the audience at Aberdeen’s Music Hall. Image: Drew Farrell

Aled wasn’t just a spectator, far from it. The much-loved performer – who became a household name singing Walking In The Air as a boy soprano -was the narrator for the evening and a brilliantly good one at that.

Aled Jones was perfect narrator for RSNO’s take on The Snowman

His rolling Welsh tones were perfect for telling the story of Raymond Brigg’s joyous creation, The Snowman. And with the RSNO note-perfect in playing Howard Blake’s lush score as the film was screened, it was – as always – one of the highlights of the night.

But Aled didn’t stop there, his banter with the audience between pieces was warm and friendly, so much so that they even forgave him for his terrible Christmas cracker jokes. Although his line about all that was missing from The Snowman was Irn Bru – “how Scottish” – was genuinely funny.

Aled Jones was perfect narrator for The Snowman, as played by the RSNO at the Music Hall. Image: RSNO

Let’s get back to The Snowman – which first aired on Channel 4 on Boxing Day in 1982 – being one of the highlights, as opposed to the highlight.

That’s because this evening with the RSNO offered up almost too many delights to count, as it provided the soundtrack to Christmas. From a haunting rendition of Aaron Copland’s Carol Of The Bells to a rousing bit of Tchaikovsky with the Trepak Russian dance and the oh-so-Christmassy Dance Of The Mirlitons from The Nutcracker it was just sparkling.

The RSNO do like their audience participation at this time of the year – so car keys were out to jangle along to Sleigh Ride – although one enterprising soul had brought actual sleigh bells. Clearly not their first RSNO Christmas rodeo.

Christmas Concert at Music Hall is the RSNO at play

And the always welcome Penguin Song had everyone on their feet doing daft actions – aided by four of the orchestra cunningly disguised as penguins.

Listening to the lush score of The Snowman, played by the RSNO, was a delight. Image: Drew Farrell

It just reinforced the notion the Christmas Concert is the RSNO at play. How else do you explain the fancy Christmas jumpers, headgear and, believe it or not, the Wizard of Oz fancy dress theme going on up there on the stage?

A new addition to the traditional concert was a medley of the music from Frozen – and excellent it was too, with motifs from Do You Want To Build A Snowman through to the gloriously soaring Let It Go. Folk in the audience were singing snatches of the song as the RSNO put a fresh and enchanting spin on these familiar tunes.

Given the rapturous reception – the biggest of the night – Frozen is destined to be a standard in future RSNO Christmas gigs.

Festive fun with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra’s Christmas concert. Image: Drew Farrell

RSNO Christmas Concert is one of the best festive nights in Aberdeen

On the subject of singing, it wouldn’t be a Yuletide offering from our national orchestra without everyone getting up to join in O Come, All Ye Faithful and Hark! The Herald Angels.

There you go, that’s Christmas sorted.

And when Aled asked if we would come back next year the answer was roaring “yes”. Why wouldn’t you want to be part of one of the best Christmas nights to be found in the Granite City?

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