2009 - 2010
World Hospice Day Concert
(The following review has kindly been supplied by a visitor.)
Last Saturday evening, Egham and District Choral Society staged a sell-out concert, at their own expense, in order to raise funds for the Sam Beare Hospice, as thousands of others around the world, in over 70 countries, came together to sing, dance, recite poetry and speak out to raise awareness and funds for hospice and palliative care across the globe.
Previous to the concert, we read a report in last week’s edition of Staines and Egham News, describing in detail that both the Woking and Sam Beare Hospices are in a dire financial situation and desperately need aid if they are to continue to provide their excellent service to the community.
The concert was performed to a packed audience. During the first half we listened to the seven movements of ‘Requiem’, by the highly acclaimed, modern composer and arranger, John Rutter. This very talented choir sang beautifully, doing full justice to the work; the result, obvious to all there, of much hard work and application. Their efforts were rewarded by prolonged applause.
The second part of the concert comprised of lighter pieces, including several vocal solos by choral members, instrumental numbers by Michael Chapman on the organ and Steve Merrony on his ‘electronic flute’ and were treated to a virtuoso piano performance by David Darby, Egham Choral’s accompanist.
The evening closed with a spirited rendition of ‘I Do Like To Be Beside the Seaside...’, invoking cries of ‘more, more!’ from the audience.
We all thoroughly enjoyed such an entertaining and successful evening,
Ruth Harrison. (Visitor and member of Ravenswood Choir, Newcastle)
Spring Concert - Rossini Stabat Mater
Sunday 28th March 2010
Last Saturday evening, Egham Choral, which has grown in numbers since the recent BBC inspired 'Learn to Sing' project brought in some new blood, staged a rousing concert with the Kew Sinfonia. Stephen Merrony, its musical director, held the combined forces of choir and orchestra (or in the case of the Faure, the organ, played by Brian Smith) very successfully. The vocal soloists were Elizabeth Hull (soprano and local star), Nicola Semple (mezzo), Andrew Mayor (bass) and Roy Rashbrook (tenor), all of whom showed professional talent with a good sense of balance and ensemble when singing together.
The programme began with Beethoven’s 'Leonore Overture No. 3, Op.72A'. This gave the orchestra chance to shine with a tight performance including lovely flute solos and off-stage trumpet. This was followed by the popular 'Cantique de Jean Racine'by Faure, which produced a mellifluous and beautifully blended, lyrical sound from the choir. If any criticism were appropriate, perhaps the Mozart mass, which concluded the first part of the programme, might have been a little bolder in approach with a slightly livelier tempi, but it was a good performance nonetheless.
The highlight of the evening was probably the Rossini 'Stabat Mater', a perfect choice for Passiontide and a moving and dramatic work. Particularly worthy of mention was the gorgeous duet for soprano and mezzo 'Quis est homo' with its attendant horn solos and the very exciting rendering of the 'Inflammatus' for chorus and soprano, with its strong brass-centred orchestral parts; altogether a most enjoyable evening and a credit to all involved in bringing music of such a high standard to Egham.
By Val Ward (Egham Music Club)
Summer Concert at TASIS
The weather was kind to us this year for our combined concert with NES. We were honoured by the presence of our new Mayor and her consort.
Summer 2010
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Tour to Norfolk
2010 Norfolk Concert
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