Midsummer Music June 2015

A review of the Midsummer Music Concert 2015 by a Choir Member's health-enforced sabbatical.

I should like you to know how much I enjoyed the concert on Saturday. I was disappointed not to be singing but it's quite amazing how riveting  the performance can be from the audience when you know everyone in the choir. Right from the start with The Seal Lullaby the quality of the singing, the balance of the voices, the dynamics and the diction were impressive and I really felt the swell of the ocean. In rehearsal I had never been committed to the Prayers from the Ark but the diversity of the music and the humour came over beautifully and again the diction was very good. 

After the brilliance of Braimah and Sheku Kanneh-Mason I wondered however the Choir was going to follow that especially as the next piece was Tom Zadik's sonnet. But you sang the piece better than ever before and it was extremely moving. The Ladies' The Spider and the Fly was brilliant - fantastic timing. Water Night's harmonies were radiant and will be unforgettable with the St Barnabas' acoustic in August. And the timing and diction of I Bought me a Cat again were brilliant. The father of the Kanneh-Mason children vigorously applauded all the highly rhythmic music.

After the amazing performances by Konya and Jeneba it was very pleasant to be led into the world of The Wind in the Willows. This has never been a piece I cared for but Richard had clearly done some homework and choreographed movement and amusing surprises into the piece which showed off the many talents of the choir. Amanda did a great job with keeping us all informed as Mole, Rat and Badger went on their travels. The arrival of Toad's car with the grinding down of the engine and buoyant arrival of Toad himself, his energy, voice and flamboyant performance were brilliant. Magistrate Butler was overwhelming. The screechy mice perfect. And who will ever forget Jemima Leaman?  :-)

Well done everyone - I'm smiling again as I remember the evening.

Diane Roberts

Secretary - Sinfonia Chorale

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