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THE ADVERTISER, MARCH 11, 1994
Well-earned applause
_for superb music
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TWENTY-ONE years as
He gave subtle shape to formance.
Guildford’s director of music
the Delius, creating an evocaThe work came to a wellforged a deep and lasting
tive, misty atmosphere rising coordinated abrupt halt that
bond
between
conductor
to explosive and well-balanc- spoke of Handley’s control. |
Vernon Handley, his ored crescendos with the brass
Vaughan Williams’ Sancta
chestra and the concert-going
nicely
= under
control. Civitas is a lovely wor
public.
Rhythms gave a feeling of which melds the different
But though loyalty and . contained energy and the voices of orchestra, choir,
affection were much in evistrings were alert. The ending soloists and treble choristérs
dence at Saturday’s concert
was a beautifully sustained together into an artistic
whisper.
by the Guildford* Philharwhole.
monic Orchestra and Choir,
The Ravel is a glorious
The diction of the choir
Guildford Chamber Choir
opportunity for a pianist to was extremely poor to start
and Cathedral Choristers,
demonstrate left handed vir-- with, but it improved noticethe drumming heels and raptuosity with the right hand ably in the piano passages.
turous applause were not
firmly clamped to the knee.
Soloists Mervyn Collins
the result of a wave: of
Originally composed for a
and Brian Rayner Cook
pianist who had lost his
nostalgia, but the well-meritbrought out the spirituality
right arm during the First
ed response to a super evenof the work, but the chorising’s music making.
World War, the work ex- ters, hidden and muffled in
ploits the piano’s capacity
The
programme
suited
a back room, were a little
Handley perfectly: Delius’s
for a sustained bass superim- disappointing.
Brigg Fair followed by
posed with gymnastics in the
This was a very musical
Ravel’s Concerto in D for
upper octaves.
and atmospheric performPiano (Left Hand) and OrJoanna MacGregor’s enerance.
chestra and ending with
getic left hand was master of
Vaughan Williams’ Sancta
the entire keyboard for an
Civitas.
impressive and dramatic per-
Jane Garrett
em