{"id":125,"date":"2012-07-03T20:39:43","date_gmt":"2012-07-03T19:39:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/elyconsort.org.uk\/?p=125"},"modified":"2015-07-15T22:10:50","modified_gmt":"2015-07-15T21:10:50","slug":"music-for-a-royal-celebration-chatteris-30-06-12","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/elyconsort.org.uk\/?p=125","title":{"rendered":"Music for a Royal Celebration ~ 30th June 2012 ~ Chatteris"},"content":{"rendered":"

Date<\/strong>: Saturday 30th June, 2012
\nVenue<\/strong>: Chatteris Parish Church
\nProgramme<\/strong>: Music for a Royal Celebration
\nGuest Soloists<\/strong>: Catriona Clark, Ashley Harries, Sam Dressel, Dominic Sedgwick
\nOrgan<\/strong>: Oliver Hancock<\/p>\n

Rosemary Westwell:\u00a0<\/em>Review Ely Consort\u2019s \u2018Music for a Royal Celebration\u2019 30th June 2012 The Parish Church, Chatteris<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Ely Consort and Director Matthew Rudd certainly know how to put on a splendid concert and \u2018Music for a Royal Celebration\u2019 was no exception. In conjunction with an excellent chamber orchestra, the Con Brio orchestra, and some fine soloists, Catriona Clark (soprano), Ashley Harris (alto), Sam Dressel (tenor) and Dominic Sedgwick (bass), these fine musicians brought well-known celebratory works to life.<\/p>\n

The perhaps less well known mass: \u2018Theresienmesse\u2019 by Haydn opened the evening and it\u2019s positive almost cheerful qualities made it a very fitting opening for such an upbeat event. There were many moments of special warmth and bright and lively tapestries of sound well contrasted well with some more serious notes of darkness or affirmative conviction. The soloists were particularly charismatic and well matched.<\/p>\n

One item that was a must for an event like this was \u2018I was Glad\u2019 by Parry. We have heard this piece a number of times already this season, and this performance was one of the best. The power these performers emanated filled Chatteris Parish Church magnificently.<\/p>\n

Light relief was offered by a charming performance of Handel\u2019s \u2018Air from The Water Music Suite\u2019 by the Con Brio string players. Then the choir and full orchestra gave a full-blooded performance of \u2018Zadok the Priest\u2019 by Handel – the opening particularly potent and strong.<\/p>\n

Another \u2018must-have\u2019 for this type of concert was Handel\u2019s \u2018The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba\u2019 and the Con Brio orchestra did it proud. More very appropriate choral works followed: \u2018Coronation Gloria\u2019 by Sir Charles Stanford. \u2018Blest Pair of Sirens\u2019 by Parry and the \u2018Hallelujah Chorus\u2019 by Handel.<\/p>\n

Catriona Clark was particularly impressive in the \u2018Coronation Gloria\u2019 while in \u2018Blest Pair of Sirens\u2019 there were particularly impressive moments of precision and times when this choir obviously revelled in the its glorious sounds.<\/p>\n

[blockquote]A musical performance of the \u2018Hallelujah\u2019 Chorus was indeed an excellent way to end this most enjoyable evening and was a fitting example to demonstrate that this choir is no \u2018ordinary\u2019 choir \u2013 it is by far one of the best in the area. I look forward to their performance in Ely Cathedral Lady Chapel on Saturday 1st December.[\/blockquote]<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The concert was presented by Chatteris Music Society and their next concert will feature an outstanding 11-year old pianist, George Harliono, who will play works by Beethoven, Rachmaninov, Chopin and Debussy on Saturday 1st September at 3 pm in Chatteris Parish Church. Contact: 01354 669104\/692009<\/p>\n