WHAT THE PRESS SAY ABOUT US

Nottingham Evening Post Monday 12th July 2010

Review: Southwell Choral Society,

Southwell Minster

SIR Willard White is a singer whose voice and personality command any performance space. Neither the height nor length of the Minster prevented him from reaching out even to those in the Minster's furthest corners. His Saturday night programme (cleverly devised with accompanist Neal Thornton) celebrated another famously charismatic artist, Paul Robeson.

The songs took the audience on a journey through Robeson's life as a star of stage and screen as well as his origins as the son of a slave and the political activities which led to exile from the United States. So here were negro spirituals and folk tunes such as the Russian Song of the Volga Boatmen as well as songs from Gershwin's Porgy and Bess and the inevitable (but no less welcome) Ol' Man River from Showboat. Throughout the programme the richness of Sir Willard's voice never wavered, his control – even in sustained singing at the top of his range – never in doubt.

It would have pleased Robeson that this was very much a people's concert too. The Southwell Choral Society, conducted by Nicholas Thorpe, provided high-energy, enthusiastic support – both musically and in their sense of drama, crisply responsive to their cues. Children were also involved, the Junior Choral demonstrating that Southwell has no shortage of musical talent for the future whilst entertaining the audience with a well-choreographed set of five songs. Award-winning soprano Lucy Hall was also on hand, sparkling in Gounod's Jewel Song and joining the choir in numbers from Rogers and Hammerstein.

William Ruff

 

Review in the Louth Leader of

The Dream of Gerontius

Performed by Southwell and Louth Choral Societies in St James Church, Louth

on Sunday 20th November 2011

 

  A CAPACITY audience in St James’ Church, Louth, were privileged to hear, on Sunday November 20, Elgar’s rarely performed masterpiece The Dream of Gerontius staged by Louth Choral Society in conjunction with Southwell Choral Society and the Lincolnshire Chamber Orchestra.

  This work is one of the most demanding in the choral repertoire and requires soloists of the highest calibre. John Graham-Hall (tenor) Christopher Maltman (bass baritone) and Leigh Woolf (mezzo soprano) brought the full expressive interpretation, majesty and drama required for the work.

  The Lincolnshire Chamber Orchestra, led by Caroline Siriwardena, was in fine form throughout the work with a thrilling climax in Part 2.

  The combined choir of two hundred voices added the final dimension with full ensemble singing which soared above the orchestra in the climax sections and all the parts were in fine voice.

  The sections involving semi chorus and split chorus were most effective and the oratorio closed to rapturous applause after a poignant twelve-part Amen.

  This work depends on an effective interpretation of Elgar’s setting of the text of the John Henry Newman’s poem The Dream of Gerontius and relies on the drama of Elgar’s writing to portray the meaning of the dark text covering the journey of a dying man of faith to the throne of judgement.

 This performance was of the highest order made special by the accomplished conducting of Martin Pickering.

  In conclusion, the logistics of staging such an effective and successful performance of this ambitious work is a credit to all concerned and in particular to the Musical Directors of the two choirs and their support staff.

  Few choral societies outside the major cities would be able to stage this work and Louth is very fortunate to have such a choir.

  There is a second performance on Saturday 21 January 2012 in Southwell Minster for anyone who missed the concert or wants to hear this Elgar masterpiece for a second time.