'But they're the right notes,' protested Eric famously, 'though not necessarily in the right order.'

The skit came to mind while listening to Elizabeth French tackling the Norwegian composer's magnum opus with the Rutland Sinfonia at pleasantly packed Oakham School chapel on Saturday.

Not that the accomplished Miss French can be compared with the hapless Eric.

It was just that both, in their vastly different ways, reminded us how difficult this popular, but technically fiendish, piece really is.

Any minor blemishes are magnified by a majestic stop-start score which contrasts full-blown Scandinavian forte with absolute pianissimo and changes gear more times than Jensen Button.

Conductor Paul Hilliam did well to keep his forces together as the young soloist, who is a marathon runner in her spare time, tackled Grieg with athletic brio and ultimately sprinted home for a bravura performance.

It deserved the ovation it received, as did a white-hot version of Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony in which the Sinfonia's Mark Penny was rightly singled out for some rapturous horn playing in the second movement.

The only disappointment of this Music For A May Night concert, which was held in association with Loros, the Leicestershire and Rutland care charity, was a frankly lacklustre version of Rimsky-Korsakov's May Night overture, which featured pseudo Russian themes indifferently played.

Brian Martin


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- Loros president Lady Gretton told concertgoers it cost £6m a year to provide help, care and support for terminally ill patients from throughout Leicestershire and Rutland. 'We look after 2,500 patients and each year we have to raise £4.5m from voluntary fund-raising because we get no direct financial help,' she said. 'Of every £1 donated by the public, 92.3p goes straight to patient care. Next year marks our 25th year and we are determined to make it something special.' A collection was taken.

- Rutland Sinfonia bassoon player John Bagley, who has been with the orchestra since its first season, was presented with a retirement gift of a portrait by flautist and artist David Calow.

- The Sinfonia's 33rd season opens with a Concerto Celebration at Oakham School chapel on Saturday October 3 which comprises Oakham School soloists violinist James Douglas, alto saxophonist Christian Fiedler, viola player Anna Lusty and pianist Alexandra-Maria Tchernakova. An unashamedly English content features Arnold's two Little Suites, the finale of Elgar's cello concerto, Butterworth's A Shropshire Lad and Walton's Henry V suite.

- Further concerts during the 2009-10 season include Oundle Classics on November 28, Music of the Northern Lights (Grieg, Sibelius, a nice bit of Nielsen and Jarnefelt's chirpy Preludium) on March 6, and Summer Sounds from Oakham on May 15. Tickets are available on 01832 274333 (Oundle) or 01572 723943/01789 752031 (Oakham).