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Vivace Chorus – Best of British Concert
with the Farnham Youth Choir and Brandenburg Sinfonia
Guildford Cathedral
25 May 2013
The Guildford based Vivace Chorus were in full voice last weekend at Guildford
Cathedral, giving a 'Best of British' concert as part of their Contemporary Choral
Classics series. Will Todd’s Angel Song II opened the concert; a beautiful, ethereal
evocation of angels on Christmas night. The committed performance was controlled
with immense aplomb by Jeremy Backhouse, conductor, who shaped the music with
such skill to produce some very arresting changes in dynamic. This is a choir willing
to tackle more adventurous repertoire, and they proved it with this piece. Bob
Chilcott’s Requiem was a good choice to follow Todd, as another composer who has
produced a significant body of choral works. Vivace Chorus brought this music to life
with energy and evident passion throughout, with precise diction. ‘Exaudi orationem
meam’ was a highlight for me in the ‘Introit and Kyrie’, with powerful solo singing
from the tenor Philip Modinos. The ensemble of wind players and percussion were
balanced well in the cathedral acoustic, and Backhouse shaped the music throughout
with detail and finesse. Emily Garland, soprano, sang the ‘Pie Jesu’ effortlessly,
followed by the energetic and toe-tapping ‘Sanctus’ from the chorus.
Paul Mealor’s Ubi caritas et amor, chosen for the Royal Wedding in 2011, was sung
with a rich, warm choral sound. The choir blended well, with precise diction and
carefully graded shaping gave the piece direction. It was the performance of John
Rutter’s Mass of the Children, featuring the stunning Farnham Youth Choir that gave
the audience a work full of captivating melodies, rich harmonies and sensitive
accompaniments. The baritone Richard Walshe gave a sensitive and thoughtful
account of ‘Lord, open thou mine eyes’, which followed the beautiful ‘Agnus Dei’
which was a wonderful dialogue between the Vivace Chorus and the children. The
larger ensemble accompanying the Rutter brought the colourful orchestration to life
and was balanced against the mass choral forces with immense skill. We all left
reminded of how rich, varied and exciting British choral music is today, thanks to
Jeremy Backhouse and his inventive programming, with the committed Vivace
Chorus, Farnham Youth Choir and promising soloists.
Steven Berryman