JAMAICANS are still talking about the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra’s (RPO) first performance on local shores. With recitals in Mandeville at the Northern Caribbean University (NCU) last Thursday and inside the historic Holy Trinity Cathedral in downtown Kingston, two days later, the RPO gave Jamaicans a true taste of what has become their trademark full, rich sound.

The organisers made a few additions to the programme for the Kingston leg including a performance of the National Youth Orchestra of Jamaica, under whose auspices the concerts were held, as well as an interpretation of Winter from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons from the Agentinian Piatzollo.

However, the major difference between both performances had to be the temperature.

Being Mandeville, last Thursday was cool, and fresh, accentuated by an early evening shower. Kingston could not have been more the opposite. The majestic Holy Trinity Cathedral felt like a sauna as over 1,000 persons streamed into the building which is not air-conditioned.

This was the only distraction as patrons made more than adequate use of Chinese-style fans, and tried desperately to ward off the heat.

The cathedral, with its aweinspiring high domes, intricate frescos and artwork, provided the perfect backdrop for the works of Mozart, Bach, Massenet, Ashbourne, Thompson and Marley.

The Jamaica Observer got reactions from patrons as they exited the Holy Trinity performance.