2005-2006
Review of 2005 Christmas Concert
The following review appeared in the Surrey Herald on the 28th December 2005:
(Reproduced with permission)
Spring Concert 2006
EGHAM AND DISTRICT CHORAL SOCIETY together with the most able assistance of the West Forest Sinfonia gave their Spring Concert on 1 April at St John's Church in Egham.
The opening work was "Blest Pair of Sirens" by Parry. It opens in the Imperial style of its period with a grand orchestral introduction preparing for the entrance of the choir, leading a memorable performance up to its huge climax.
The second and principal work was the German Requiem by Brahms, in which the choir were joined by soloists Amy Moore (soprano) and Lawrence Wallington (bass-baritone). In contrast to the more usual Mass for the Dead, Brahms selected texts from the German Lutheran Bible, which are intended to be of a consolatory nature, and on this occasion a distinguished English translation was used. There were many highlights in the performance - notably the sublime introduction on the lower strings before the opening chorus and the fanfare and fugue at the close of the chorus "Behold, all flesh is as grass". Lawrence Wallington gave an excellent account of his solos in "Lord let me know mine end" and later in "We have no abiding city". The chorus showed their merit in a sensitive rendering of "How lovely are thy dwellings" with some lovely tenor lines, and in all their other contribtions. Amy Moore was a choral scholar at Royal Holloway under Professor Pike, and her pure voice was a delight in "Ye now have sorrow".
Lionel Pike conducted his second concet with the choir. During his years at Royal Holloway he nurtured generations of students, and we can now hear results of the same attention in the dedicated, focussed and wholly musical performance by the amateur singers of the Egham and District Choral Society. It is a privilege to have music of this calibre available to the public of Runnymede.
(Our thanks to Margaret Roberts for supplying this review.)
Spring 2005
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The Glyndebourne Experience Comes to Egham and District
A summer evening on the lawns of TASIS preceded by a concert in lighter vein in the Fleming Theatre and rounded off with “Last Night of the Proms” style community singing has now become something of a tradition for Egham & District Choral Society and its supporters during the month of June, and this year’s Mediterranean heat made it all the more enjoyable, although fans for cooling hot faces were “de rigeur” in the theatre. However, as this year’s musical offering was a concert performance of Gilbert & Sullivan’s “The Mikado” fans were entirely appropriate!
As well as the fact that this music is great fun, it offered plenty of opportunity for the numerous fine solo voices of the choir to shine like the “sun whose rays are all ablaze with ever living glory.” In fact Wendy Kessack to whom the setting of these words was accorded deserves special mention for her professional calibre voice, and Mike Davis as the eponymous Mikado also stood out, for the character in his singing as well as a good bass voice. Margaret Hull’s sturdy alto also suited her role as Katisha, the “daughter-in-law elect.” Other soloists were Emma Brickell, Anna Foster, Alison and Stephen Hatherall, Ruth Hopkins, Cecil Hull, Catherine Jennaway, Steve Merrony, Melanie Pandit, Rosalie Pike and Ray Tregoning, all acquitting themselves creditably, even though some were singing solos for the first time.
The chorus provided suitably mellifluous backing to all the solo parts, and a novel approach was to have the spoken voices of Gilbert (David Young) and Sullivan (Lionel Pike) providing background commentary in a lighthearted vein on the influences and satirical ideas behind the writing of the opera. Some local and topical words were also added to the Lord High Executioner’s well-known “little list.”
Special mention must go to both the musical director, Dr. Lionel Pike, and to the accompanist David Darby, both well known in musical circles, and performing the overture to the opera together in piano duet version. During the “wine and dine” interval background music including excerpts from Bizet’s “Carmen”, Cole Porter, Gershwin etc. was suavely provided by the “Brass Monkeys” who also accompanied the patriotic closing choruses and the National Anthem, highly appropriate on the Queen’s birthday.
The choir rehearses on Monday evenings in the United Church of Egham from 7.30 to 9.30 pm and next term brings performances of Handel’s “Messiah” in November, and two Christmas concerts in December. If you are interested in singing come to a rehearsal and speak to a committee member if you want to join, or phone the Membership Secretary Marion Newell on 01932 563092.
Valerie Ward - June 2006