Spring Concert a ‘superb performance’

We pleased to share this review of our recent spring concert from an audience member:

‘These two masses made an interesting evening : the Mozart Mass was twenty minutes long and the Rossini Mass was over an hour. Charles Matthews accompanied the choir on the organ for the Mozart (which we enjoyed in a relaxed way) the feel of the music being uninhabited and expressive of his smaller works in this genre. The choir must be congratulated for their good interpretation in this respect. Charles played the harmonium for the Rossini.
The Messe Solennelle was contrasting and the impression of his operas’ spontaneity remains. After a pause of 30 years since his last opera, he wrote his Mass at the age of 72. Rossini probably named the Mass “Petite” because he wrote it for four soloists, twelve choir members, two pianos and a harmonium.
It was exciting to hear the excellent work of the choir having been put into this performance, and it started with an ostinato of the piano and harmonium counterpart. Many parts were operatic with splendid rhythms – to get our feet tapping – with good dynamics and excellent accompaniment from Colin Druce on the piano whose sforzandos caused the gentleman sitting in front of us to leap from his seat !
The supporting soloists were Katie Leaver (soprano), Rebecca Mitchell-Farmer (mezzo soprano), Dale Harris (tenor) and Paul Mocroft (bass). With their superb performance , the skilful conducting of Helen Smith and judging from the huge applause at the end, it was considered a highly successful concert.’