Reviewing this concert presents a challenge, which is very simply explained.
Nearly all the items sung by the choristers on their own were reviewed in the November magazine. The more they’re sung, the smoother they get but it was good to hear Britten’s A New Year Carol which, like BBC 4 programmes in the Radio Times, could have NEW written beside it. And new and fresh it sounded. There cannot be anyone who likes classical music left in the land who does not know it was 100 years ago this year that Britten was born – on St Cecilia’s Day.
So please excuse me if I move on to the second section of the programme. Although there is an elaborate Evensong at this time every year – and I am not sure who was more taxed by Britten’s “Ode to Saint Cecilia” – the choir surmounting its technical difficulties or the congregation wondering what on earth the words were all about – there has never been anything for the choristers so this was a first.
The combined choirs began with a Victorian classic “Lead me Lord” by Wesley, a staple of any church choir. We then had Howard Goodall’s version of “The Lord is my Shepherd” aka “The Vicar of Dibley”, and when the adult choir joined in, who could blame them for a few discreet smiles. But it was all very engaging. Having personally begged James to let us hear the beautiful, and to me previously unknown, “Ave Maria” by Parsons again, it was a great pleasure to hear the choristers venturing into Tudor church music, of course then only sung by boys and men but now including the girls.
The climax of the concert was the Hampstead Hallelujah. Handel’s chorus must have been sung by everyone in sight, but nothing like here! We had James’ special vamp-till-ready accompaniment on the piano, with the music threatening to fall down, we had The Three Tenors – Handley, Aidan and Paul – vying to be King of Kings, and we had Nick (no doubt inspired by the Return of the Beard) Lord of Lords on the bass line.
All together now:
Our choir shall reign for ever and ever!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Ha-lle-lu-JAH!
St Cecilia Recital (24th November)
Suzanne Pinkerton