Review of Christmas Concert
| Type of post: | Press article |
| Sub-type: | No sub-type |
| Posted By: | ... [Webmaster] |
| Status: | Current |
| Date Posted: | Mon, 30 Dec 2024 |
The annual Christmas programme from the Winchester-based chamber choir, Southern Voices, is invariably a sell-out event and 2024 was no exception. Given in the atmospheric surroundings and gratifying acoustic of the Chapel of St Cross this was an attractive Yuletide celebration well-prepared by the three dozen voices (including two young choral scholars). They were led by conductor Jamal Sutton and accompanied by organist George Castle and Welsh harpist Alis Huws.
Perhaps part one of the evening was a slow warm-up to the main item of this performance – Britten’s Ceremony of Carols. Usually sung by treble voices only with virtuoso harp, this was an airing of Julius Harrison’s arrangement for SATB voices. This meant that the confident choir rather dominated the subtleties of the former Official Royal Harpist. Solos were taken by choir members, with varying degrees of diction, but even the tricky fast movements were tackled with great conviction.
If works in slow tempi marked most of the programme this gave the large audience chance to savour the blend of voices and some warm soft passages. French and German texts were delivered clearly and much sensitivity shown, notably in Rutter’s sumptuous setting of Herrick’s poem What sweeter music. The choir’s ability to deal with more rhythmic fare was demonstrated in their final offering, Toby Young’s contemporary O be joyful. Alis Huws was able to reveal technical skill and creativity in her own solo version of the Welsh carol Nos Galan and George Castle made similar seasonal contributions by Bach and John Rutter.
By centring on arrangements of familiar Christmas tunes and featuring solo and full choir textures together with instrumental items the whole evening would appeal to its wide range of listeners. They in turn were invited to join in four carols for choir and audience. In all, a most suitable climax to Southern Voices’ 40th anniversary year.
-- Derek Beck
Perhaps part one of the evening was a slow warm-up to the main item of this performance – Britten’s Ceremony of Carols. Usually sung by treble voices only with virtuoso harp, this was an airing of Julius Harrison’s arrangement for SATB voices. This meant that the confident choir rather dominated the subtleties of the former Official Royal Harpist. Solos were taken by choir members, with varying degrees of diction, but even the tricky fast movements were tackled with great conviction.
If works in slow tempi marked most of the programme this gave the large audience chance to savour the blend of voices and some warm soft passages. French and German texts were delivered clearly and much sensitivity shown, notably in Rutter’s sumptuous setting of Herrick’s poem What sweeter music. The choir’s ability to deal with more rhythmic fare was demonstrated in their final offering, Toby Young’s contemporary O be joyful. Alis Huws was able to reveal technical skill and creativity in her own solo version of the Welsh carol Nos Galan and George Castle made similar seasonal contributions by Bach and John Rutter.
By centring on arrangements of familiar Christmas tunes and featuring solo and full choir textures together with instrumental items the whole evening would appeal to its wide range of listeners. They in turn were invited to join in four carols for choir and audience. In all, a most suitable climax to Southern Voices’ 40th anniversary year.
-- Derek Beck
