Concert
notes 13th November 2004
The society’s celebration of the Entente
Cordiale was a concert of contrasts. The opening work, Parry’s Blest Pair of
Sirens, was performed with the choir’s customary confidence and aplomb
supported by the majesty of the organ played by Roger Bryan. We needed the shot
of adrenalin for Poulenc Stabat Mater, which followed. This is probably
the most demanding work we have attempted in recent months. Saturday’s
performance was exciting and nerve-racking and a real test of teamwork. Lydia’s
accompaniment and Steven’s panache with the baton ensured that the audience was
not disappointed. Soloist Kate Brian conveyed a bereaved mother’s anguish with
chilling conviction, which was particularly poignant at this time of
Remembrance. It is a tribute to Steven’s ambition for the choir that he chose a
work that is not a staple of the amateur choral repertoire and it stretched us:
we met the challenge!
It was almost a relief to start the second
part of the concert with the familiar I Was Glad When they Said Unto Me. No
time to relax though, when the choir is divided into eight parts for this
grandiose setting of part of Psalm 122 listening, watching and singing is the
epitome of multi-tasking. But we were indulgent and enjoyed singing this very
English music.
Our final piece was the much-loved Fauré Requiem. It’s an audience-pleaser but none the worse
for that. The sopranos produced a quite superb ethereal sound, moving and
lyrical and avoiding saccharine sentimentality. We were blest in our soloists,
soprano Kate Brian and baritone Andrew Slater who were both inspiring.
As ACS concerts go this was a ‘good ‘un’
for singers and audience mixing as it did the familiar and the challenging. (If
you sang on Saturday, what were you still humming on Sunday?)
We are fortunate to have a musical director with vision, a superb and unflappable accompanist and access to the RNCM for our concerts.
Sara Apps (Alto 2)