BY happy coincidence the Scottish Chamber Orchestra was in Skye last

Friday while I was soaking up the wild beauties of the south-west of the

island, so I took the tortuous route from Elgol to Broadford Village

Hall where they were playing a summery programme to a packed house.

This was one (and a delightful one) of a series of concerts in the

SCO's Highlands tour, a much appreciated annual event in these remote

parts: some of the players were off to Plockton next day, too, to coach

local children, in a co-ordinated music education programme which has

already had valuable spin-offs.

It's refreshing to see the orchestra in close-up, it gives quite a

fresh perspective, and seems to be good for the players too. Leader

James Clark proved an extremely sound and able director, from the

violin, and the Dvorak Serenade for Strings was tender and charming,

nicely spaced and well balanced. Sound in this little village hall was

excellent and Schubert's Overture in the Italian Style was full and

vibrant with an effervescence which was pure Rossini.

The attractive Concerto for two Bassoons by Vanhal (an

eighteenth-century Bohemian composer much admired by Mozart) was also

given a sensitive, affectionate performance by SCO members Ursula

Leveaux and Alison Green. Pure, dreamy Delius completed the programme --

On hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring -- which made for a nice contrast.

The cuckoo is making its presence felt in Skye at the moment, but with

somewhat more raucous tones.