Photo: Mark Holland-Avery
In spite of its title, the most substantial work in Egham Choral Society's Spring concert was the cantata "St. Nicholas " by Benjamin Britten , which took up the second half of their concert on April 16th. The instrumentalists were the West London Sinfonia (their excellent percussionists very much in evidence in this unusually-scored work) and piano duettists Stephen Lea and David Darby, (the latter being the choir's rehearsal pianist.) The tenor soloist who represents St. Nicholas was Roy Rashbrook who sings with the St. Paul's Cathedral Choir and the King's Consort as well as giving solo recitals and singing in oratorio. He gave a most committed and moving rendering of his role, and trebles from Papplewick school took the roles of the young saint (Mansur Batchelor) and the pickled boys in the bizarre and highly dramatic section where these boys are brought back to life by miraculous intervention of the saint. The choir were in excellent form under Henry Macey's baton, and the girls of Langley Grammar School Voices also sang really well in their separate chorus sections. The piano duet part was excellently played and integrated with the whole ensemble, and the excitement and drama of the whole work clearly transmitted itself to the audience, who joined fervently in the two hymns incorporated into the work.
The first half of the programme was indeed mainly Mozart , starting with two delightful works of this composer's youth , the Te Deum ( "We Praise Thee O God") written when he was a mere 13 years old. This was accompanied by the strings of the West London Sinfonia , but with no parts for violas , plus organ played by Howard Parkhouse, who also completed the continue section in the Missa Brevis (Short Mass) which followed. This latter work includes vocal solos which on this occasion were bravely sung by members of the choir. This music, which sets the ordinary of the mass briefly and simply , but vey effectively , was written when Mozart had reached the mature age of 18!
A charming rendering of "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" (Mozart's No. 1 hit) from the Sinfonia followed, and then came a work for choir, orchestra and mezzo soprano solo (excellently sung by Hilary Jane Andrews) by the Enghsh composer Michael Hurd (born 1928 and probably better known for his lighter works for schoolchildren such as "Jonah-Man Jazz"). This rather lugubrious setting of Shakespeare's strange and sad poem was sung expressively by both choir and soloist, and the orchestra provided a sensitive accompaniment. This was an ambitious piece in a full programme, all of which was excellently presented. We are lucky to have music-making of such a high standard here in Egham, and the capacity audience were clearly well pleased with their evening. The final piece before the interval was another well-known Mozart item , "Ave Verum Corpus."
Written by Valerie Ward (01784 436541)