Christmas Lights
Held on probably the coldest night of the year so far, the Christmas Lights concert appropriately, raised money for St Martin in the Fields Homeless Charity. Long before they moved into their current premises the charity operated out of the Crypt of St Martin’s (where the cafe now is). I volunteered there in the early 1990s and got an insight into the depth of poverty then, which sadly still exists to devastating effect today.
But the atmosphere at HPC was all light and enthusiasm as the evening kicked off with the tintinnabulation of “Sleigh Ride” followed by Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Bells”.
The assembled company consisted of the Community Choir, the Junior Choir, an enigmatic ensemble called perhaps Awe and Wonder or maybe Able and Willing? It wasn’t in the programme but seemed to consist of a few members of the Community Choir augmented by singers who don’t have time to attend weekly choir practice but enjoy a good sing! They did jolly well. And the Hampstead Players – good to see Matthew Williams fresh from his role in “Blithe Spirit” along with Barbara Alden and David Gardner, and a cameo role from John Willmer lending his authentic legal voice to John Julius Norwich’s “Twelve Days of Christmas”. This piece never fails to delight audiences and Barbara played the mood of the increasingly frustrated Emily to perfection.
The Community Choir has grown – in numbers as in ability – and gave us a varied and entrancing programme. It wasn’t all jollity – “Snow” by Jonathan Dove, was a gentle melody flanked by Thomas Hardy and Clive Sansom (“The Darkling Thrush” and “Snowflakes”) in sombre mode (is Hardy ever anything else?)
The Junior Choir held their own, from their newest member, Teddy, singing in his first concert, to Lindsay, back for the holiday and graduating from Junior to adult Community Choir – lovely to have her there. And who doesn’t get a lump in the throat hearing children sing “Away in a Manger”?
During the interval we were refreshed with wine and more mince pies than I’ve ever seen – we’ll be serving them up till Epiphany. “Are we allowed to eat them?” one of the junior choir asked.
The second part began with an admission from choir director Aidan Coburn that he likes Rutter and had included three of his carols – no complaints from me, I love Rutter! And so apparently did the rest of the audience. Aidan has proved a very able choir director, taking over from David Moore sometime in the foggy era known as “before covid”. The Community Choir and Junior Choir flourish under his guidance, and we know he finds time for his Colle Voce Singers and a leading role in the Hampstead Collective – singing, conducting or front of house. And a day job as well of course. Some of us remember that he came to the church as a schoolboy member of the adult choir in Lee Ward’s time – and he’s remained faithful ever since. I can attest to the fact that choir rehearsals are fun, and that he gets results is evident!
If you’d like to join the Community Choir, or have a child who’d be interested in the Junior Choir contact [email protected]
