RARELY can there have been such a joyous occasion at the Eastgate Theatre, for both musical and extra-musical reasons, as Saturday evening’s concert by Peebles Orchestra.

The concert’s title, 'Autumn Gold’, the highly-attractive programme of works by Mozart and Bizet, and the orchestra’s fine form in recent concerts were enough in themselves to promise a most enjoyable evening.

But this concert had even more to it than that, the foundations for which were laid in 2012 (or perhaps more accurately, for reasons that will become clear, in 1964).

As Anne Valentine, the Orchestra’s chairman explained: “Lady Elizabeth and David Benson came to one of our concerts in 2012 and were impressed by the performance, seeing the value of a community orchestra offering local players the opportunity to perform to the local audience.

“Shortly afterwards, they offered to fund this concert which is also, in part, a celebration of their Golden Wedding.” Thanks to their generosity, the Orchestra was able to invite two renowned soloists, Alexander Janiczek and Jane Atkins to play Mozart’s wonderful Sinfonia Concertante for violin and viola.

As a Golden Wedding was the inspiration for the concert, it was very fitting that it should open with a celebration of a marriage, that of Figaro, in the overture to Mozart’s opera.

This found the players on their toes right from the start, in a lively performance that captured the spirit of this joyful music and set the tone for the evening.

It was followed by the undoubted musical highlight of the evening, as the two distinguished guests took to the stage.

As the performance unfolded, one was aware not only of the stunning virtuosity and beauty of tone of the soloists, but also of the intensity of the rapport between them, born of many appearances together in this very work, not to mention their long association through the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.

The dialogue between the two instruments in the central Andante was especially ravishing, and the pared-down orchestra provided sensitive accompaniment here and throughout this wonderfully uplifting performance.

After the interval, with the orchestra back to full strength, the near-capacity audience was treated to an effervescent performance of Bizet’s delightful symphony in C, written when he was only 17 and full of youthful joie de vivre.

Three of the four movements are marked vivo or vivace, and guest conductor Richard Nelson skilfully captured that lively character to perfection without ever driving the music too hard.

The orchestra responded superbly, delivering a powerfully energetic first movement, interrupted by the graceful second subject featuring fine contributions from oboes and flutes.

The scherzo was splendidly rustic, complete with bagpipe-like drone from lower strings, and the finale scampered along just as it should towards the work’s exuberant conclusion.

In between came a gentle, lyrical slow movement, with a hauntingly beautiful solo that won a well-deserved special round of applause at the end for principal oboe Mandy McEwan.

The evening was rounded off with an encore that represented the orchestra’s own very special tribute to the Bensons, made all the more touching for having their ranks swollen by the evening’s two star soloists who took up seats in the rear desks!

Their choice was perfect for the occasion, one of the most romantic of all waltzes, Franz Léhar’s 'Gold and Silver’, delivered by the orchestra with real affection, a feeling that was surely shared by everyone in the audience at the end of this very special evening.