a7is e
Surrey Advertiser
20
Theatre arts review
A passion
for music
Chantez! A Night of French
Music
in the pavane, drawing out
the famous melody with ex-
Vivace Chorus and
quisite musicality.
The
Brandenburg Sinfonia
professional
ensem-
solo
Ravel’s
G Live
ble’'s
Rating: % % % % 5%
Pavane pour une infant défunte, was heart-wrenching.
SATURDAY
Channel
G
Live
The music felt like it was in
across
the
a
night
flight, soaring over the heads
of the audience.
saw
transported
piece,
for
immersed in the elegance of
French classical music.
Jeremy
Backhouse opened the con-
de Jean Racine. Choir and en-
cert
semble were in perfect harmony, showing off their im-
with
Jules
Chansons
Massenet'’s
des
bois
d’Amaranthe and after a
shaky start, Vivace Chorus’s
confidence blossomed and
pressive
dynamic
while giving the music space
to breathe.
The
pace of Oiseau des bois. Some
César
of the songs were slightly lost
Angelicus with aplomb. Their
in
enjoyment of the music was
contrapuntal
lines
chorus
pulled
Franck’s
off
Panis
it
obvious and the solo cello
added melodious depth.
Fauré’'s
Madrigal
From the opening Kyrie of
followed,
with
beautiful
breadth
of tone
basses
and
but
Backhouse
brought
back with a joyful Chantez!
Gabriel
from
altos.
Fauré’s
Requiem
the
choir
the
outdid the orchestra. They
The
were more delicate and more
Brandenburg Sinfonia shone
ge—blt
control
they settled into the lively
bitty
Y
It was matched only by
Vivace
Chorus’s
stunning
rendition of Fauré’s Cantique
Conductor
eo—~l
precise,
with
a
beautifully
sustained sound. The climax
of the Sanctus was jubilant,
although the quieter sections
were marred by the solo violin, whose exaggerated rubato
and
thin
tone
was
off-putting.
Soprano
Jocelyn
Somerville’s
pure,
lyrical
voice was perfect for the Pie
Jesu and provided contrast to
the menacing choral intensity of the Agnus Dei. Baritone
Matthew Wood’s warm, effortless tone enveloped the
audience in Libera Me and
the work finished on a rever-
their repertoire with an intel-
ent In Paradisum.
ligence that brought the mu-
Despite .all the ups and
downs that accompany an
amateur
performance,
the
concert was a true expression
of musical maturity.
The performers executed
sic to life. Vivace Chorus has
the most important ingredient for music-making: passion, and on Saturday they
shared that with us all.
Charlotte Perkins