Review of classical concert, 13 December 2008
St John’s Church in West Ealing is a spacious, yet intimate, setting for
this large choir and orchestra. The substantial audience was able to sit in
a half-circle around the performers in a way that made them feel very much
part of what was going on.
Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on Christmas Carols is an audience-friendly
starter but the opening is a challenge to the cellist. On this occasion that
exposed opening phrase was immaculately played by one of the orchestra’s
young cellists, and really set an atmosphere and standard for the whole
evening.
Andrew MacWilliams complemented this with his crystal clear opening
statement 'This Is The Truth' abetted by the choir who sang with confidence
and awareness of the need to balance and support the soloist. Only here and
there did I sense a slight lack of co-ordination with one part getting
slightly ahead of another, but all was safe in the hands of conductor David
Wordsworth.
The Chamber Choir gave us thoughtfully varied interpretations of Parry’s
Three Carols with a lovely blended tone and balance though I would suggest
continued work on consonants so that we can hear the words more clearly.
John Gardner’s Dancing Day was well integrated - congratulations to all
players and singers for making it so exuberant. A Babe was Born by Matthias
was fluent and confident with the men blending well in their unison singing,
with sensitive organ accompaniment from Edward Kemp-Luck.
Kenneth Hesketh’s piece Sleep Holy Babe with its Three Blind Mice opening
phrase seemed a little mild, but it progressed in its structure most
productively and generously moving from trebles to tutti and turned out to
be a sensitively, well-graded composition which I very much enjoyed, as
clearly, did the choir.
We were privileged to hear the first performance of Richard Causton’s Cradle
Song, dedicated to the conductor, a neat setting most beautifully sung, with
the composer present.
Bob Chilcott’s Twelve Days of Christmas ended the first half. It is a real
fun piece, very popular, and very much more difficult than average audiences
might think. A splendid first half.
The second half was devoted to St Nicholas by Benjamin Britten, and here the
orchestra excelled, sounding really enthusiastic about this wonderful music.
Eamonn Mulhall was well equipped vocally and musically to deliver this
intense piece with steady tone and intonation but I did feel that much of
the time he was over-concerned with the musical content and less with the
character.
Bravo to the lovely girls of the semi-chorus and the boy soloist. The choir
gave an exciting, emotional performance of this wonderful piece, taking all
the necessary risks to give us the drama of the music, the pianists
providing discreet and stable backing – congratulations to Matthew Hough,
Edward Kemp-Luck and Janet Obi-Keller.
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