The following review was printed in the Surrey Mirror's "Guide" section in June 2005:

Slater Sinfonietta at Shalford

No doubt there will be some “Frank Sinatras” was a comment heard when it was rumoured that the concert given by Christopher Slater and his Sinfonietta was to be his last. “Come backs” have often been the case with actors and singers, but conductors are supposed to go on for ever. We shall see!

In any event the programme on Saturday 11th June was hardly a sad affair, featuring as it did some of the most lively and happy music of the late 18th century. Sandwiched between Mozart’s “Paris” symphony and Schubert’s 2nd, Haydn’s only Trumpet concerto was given a fine performance by Gareth Bimson, the Principal player from the BBC Symphony Orchestra. After the interval two Mozart concert arias were delightfully sung by local soprano Jan Barklem.

The orchestra’s woodwind were heard to good effect in these as indeed they were in the Schubert Symphony, while the strings led by Lin Watchorn, were sparkling and lively in the Mozart works. A special mention must be made of the ‘cello section which as far as I could see consisted of only one player (!) (the conductor’s son), played beautifully in the variation 2 of the second movement of the Schubert. Christopher’s conducting produced some of the best playing I have heard from a pro-am orchestra. Let’s hope this is not to be his last.

D. Bass