A cruise along the banks of the River Deûle is certainly unusual for an orchestral concert, but where better for a performance of Handel’s Water Music. The work was written in honour of King George I to accompany a trip down the River Thames in 1717.  Comprising of three suites – the first in F (joyous), the second in G (more intimate) and the last in D (royally majestic) – the brilliance of the work’s melodic beauty and rich instrumentation make it a milestone in the genre. A triumph, right from the start!