A NEW era has begun for the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra under Chief Conductor Mark Wigglesworth. And Maestro and musicians fairly stormed into it at Lighthouse Poole on Wednesday.

The performance of William Walton’s brooding Symphony No 1 absolutely electrified a full house as conductor and players surged into overdrive.

Walton is said to have wanted to blow his contemporaries out of the water with this volcanic work premiered in 1934 (just the first three movements) and 1935.

He undoubtedly achieved his aim and the magnificent BSO did him proud on Wednesday night with an explosive, jaw dropping performance

Wigglesworth squeezed every last drop of blood sweat and toil from the each section of the orchestra with his relentless and restless energy and ferocious intensity - with calmness and serenity too when needed in his trademark finely detailed interpretation and sophistication.

Wigglesworth is the first new chief conductor appointed in 15 years following the departure of Kirill Karabits in June.

He is the first Briton to hold the post in 63 years, the last being Sir Charles Groves.

The audience was also immensely privileged to see the extraordinary Nicholas McCarthy perform Piano Concerto for the Left Hand by Maurice Ravel.

It was a dazzling, breathtaking performance by this most charming and inspirational of musicians and who born without a right hand.

Audience and players were in left is awe.

McCarthy is a global champion of the brave and inspiring world of the left hand alone repertoire.

The evening opened with Wagner’s great comedy Mastersingers of Nuremberg. I had expected this to be the highlight of my evening, but Walton, Wigglesworth and the orchestra did indeed blow the German composer out of the water too.

Mastersingers was the first piece Wigglesworth ever conducted with the BSO, three decades ago.

Speaking before the concert, BSO Chief Executive Dougie Scarfe said in terms of reputation, repertoire, talent and understanding of this unique institution there was only one person to follow Karabits.

Another Chief Conductor who can make the public and the profession sit up and listen.

The audience members soon discovered that for themselves.