18 Surrey Advertiser 22nd May 2009
T—
Todd’s Te Deum was the
‘highpoint of programme
A FULL-HOUSE was treated to
a compelling performance of
contemporary vocal music on
Saturday night at Guildford
Cathedral.
The
ambitious
Vivace
Chorus commissioned a brand
new large-scale work for the
occasion — Will Todd’s Te Deum
for chorus, children’s choir,
soprano soloist and ensemble.
The rest of this refreshingly
imaginative programme was
made up of music by other living composers from America
and Britain.
While it was good to hear
fine performances of some
familiar modern classics by
John Tavener and John Rutter
and to be introduced to works
by Morton Lauridsen and Eric
Whitacre, Todd’s brilliant new
piece was the highpoint of th
evening.
:
Todd is very much on home
territory in writing large-scale
vocal works.
His Mass in Blue (2003) is
much performed and has
recently been recorded on
Signum Classics to great critical acclaim. Indeed, it was
" Vivace’s recent performance of
the Mass in Blue that led to this
commission.
:
From the bold virtuosic timpani writing in the opening
bars,of the Te Deum it was clear
the audience was in for a
‘treat. Todd’s musical language
is drawn from a variety of
sources which are integrated
into a compelling musical
cocktail.
If there were echoes of
Walton and Britten in
. one
movement, there were traces of
Sondheim and Duke Ellington
in another. Pupils from Holy
Trinity School, Tormead School
and Holy Trinity Church Choir
joined forces in a touching performance of the 4th movement; a beautiful setting of the
Lord is my Shepherd.
Elsewhere, soprano Bethany
Halliday and saxophonist Paul
Fawcus impressed with gripping solo turns.
The Vivace Chorus was
excellent throughout the concert, making light work of a
challenging
programme.
Conductor Jeremy Backhouse
had ‘the chorus’s undivided
attention; his hard work on
detail in rehearsals paying dividends in a slick, professional
performance.
Vivace’s bold programming
transformed this concert into
an event. I eagerly await their
next commission.
Stephen Goss
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