The Conductor

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra posthumous tribute: A quality of sound and style which was unique in this country. Silvestri was always proud that, whatever the size of the orchestra, the musicians played with the sensitivity of a chamber group.

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BSO General Manager Kenneth Matchett: There is no doubt that up to the time of his death, the BSO was one of the best orchestras in the country. It could stand comparison with any of the others.

 

BSO Assistant Conductor James Loughran: He succeeded in getting the orchestra to be so pliable that they could watch his every movement, every nuance, and respond to it. It became by far the freest and most virtuoso orchestra in the country. It was quite extraordinary.

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BSO Principal Oboe, Roger Winfield: The only conductor able to make the orchestra play like a soloist. I played with some of the world’s greats but there’s been none to match Silvestri.

 

BSO Violinist Brian Johnston: We were all aware that there was something very special about him, that something unusual was about to happen.

 

BSO Sub-principal Double Bass Ivor Pemberton: Silvestri’s baton technique was the most expressive I have ever seen. It had a mesmerising effect.

 

French composer Marius Constant: Each of Silvestri’s interpretations of a work was an event, because his musical conception and the colours he gave each piece was something really extraordinary.

 

Percussionist Ioan Maxim, Romanian National Opera: He would say to us that for such and such a passage you should use metal or perhaps it would be wood, narrow or wider sticks, and he knew within a centimetre or two the place where each instrument should be struck.

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BSO General Manager Kenneth Matchett: The Usher Hall has about four tiers and when, at the end of the programme, the audience started to stamp in unison, it was dangerous, like soldiers crossing a bridge without breaking step. It went on and on, but there were no signs of the maestro returning to the stage. The place was erupting and the major-domo rushed up very agitated: ‘For God’s sake give them an encore or the balcony will collapse!’ (Edinburgh Festival 1963).