Date: Saturday 4th December 2025
Venue: St Peter & St Paul, Chatteris
Programme: Assorted Seasonal Favourites
Featuring: Medlock Symphonia (Helen Medlock) with Ely Consort & Matthew Rudd (Conductor),
A most enjoyable concert took place in the church in Chatteris on Saturday. Taking part were Ely Consort, directed by Matthew Rudd and the Medlock Sinfonia, led by Helen Medlock. Both were of a very high standard and worked together extremely well.
They presented a most varied concert with items that were well known and traditional as well as some that were new and refreshing.
The evening opened with a lovely performance by Medlock Sinfonia of the Jig and Intermezzo from Gustav Hosts’ St. Paul’s Suite. The jig was vigorous and joyful and The Intermezzo was slow and moving, setting the high standard for the rest of the concert.
Excerpts from Handel’s Messiah followed with a delightful Pastoral Symphony by the Medlock Sinfonia, the recitative There were Shepherds abiding in the fields and a glorious Glory to God in the Highest.
A new unaccompanied arrangement of In the Bleak Midwinter by Eriks Esenvalds followed and contained full, warm harmonies that gave us new insight into this familiar carol. The two choirs balanced perfectly. Another piece in the programme that explored a well-known carol was Silent Night written by Kestutis Daugirdas. In his arrangement, more modern harmonies were used that made the carol more mysterious and gentle.
A fresh new performance of Ding Dong Merrily on High by Ely Consort ended the first half of the programme.
After interval, the Ely Sinfonia played the Allegro and Romanza from the familiar Eine Kleine Nachtmusik. They played with strength and vigour while still maintaining a light-hearted, rich sound.
As Matthew said, no Christmas concert is complete without a composition by Sir John Rutter. The splendid performance of his Nativity Carol was sonorous and beautifully controlled.
Elgar, known for his familiarity with strings, was the composer of Serenade for Strings which the Medlock Sinfonia played next with phenomenal contrasts in dynamics and expressive phrasing.
Michael Praetorius’s In Dulci Jubilo took us back in the centuries with the two choirs balancing and echoing each other splendidly.
The concert ended with two more delightful items from The Messiah: For unto us a Child is Born and the Hallelujah chorus in which the audience stood in the usual tradition.
This was an excellent concert in aid of the Chatteris Parish Church. For more information contact [email protected]
Review: Rosemary Westwell
Photos: Chris Barton
