Review of recent concerts

Fauré and Blackford at St James', Piccadilly (April 2002)

In spite of standing in the heart of London and falling prey to car horns and police car sirens, the Wren church of Saint James's Piccadilly is still a captivating venue for a concert. Its perfect proportions and welcoming atmosphere of warmth and comfort immediately put one in the mood for a special evening of music making.

The generous sized audience that attended the Reigate and Redhill Choral Society's concert there on Saturday 13th April was not disappointed. In the first half, under the inspired baton of their conductor Peter Farrant, the choir took on the challenge of Richard Blackford's "Mirror of Perfection". Composed in 1996 this work was commissioned by the Royal Ballet School to mark its centenary and has quickly passed into the choral repertoire. The dynamic sound world of ancient church polyphonic chant has been Blackford's musical inspiration and the poetry set is hitherto unknown poems by St. Francis of Assisi. In these poems St. Francis expounds passionately on celebrating love in all forms, the great happiness and great pain it brings in becoming "one" with Love.

Both the choir and conductor brought tremendous commitment to this very demanding work. The choir surmounted the arduous task of long sustained lines, furious syncopated rhythms and, particularly for the sopranos, a high tessitura, with great aplomb. There were just occasional lapses of intonation, caused mainly by grappling with Italian, Latin and French texts. Italian in particular can be a troublesome language for an English voice, demanding as it does, bright, pure vowels. Mastering this will clarify the colours and give us the constantly shifting shafts of light and luminosity so evident in Blackford's harmonic language. This would have been the "icing on the cake" of course, but will, I am sure on familiarity, be accomplished. The soloists in this work and Fauré's Requiem, which came in the second half, were the soprano Tracie Penwarden and baritone William Berger. Both soloists, who were in fine voice, were relaxed and easy to listen to and sang their extremely taxing parts with great commitment. My only criticism here was again concerning the Italian vowels which, had they been more differentiated, would perhaps have given greater tonal variety. Easy for me to say as I wasn't performing!

Both soloists and choir gave a sincere and warm acount of Fauré's Requiem, which left one yet again contemplating "Love". Peter Farrant shaped the work with great care and love and he was rewarded by the choir's commitment to this serene work.

Both pieces were performed with organ accompaniment and praise must go to Robert Jones, who's playing of the "Canticle of Peace" in the Blackford was almost unbearably moving.

Reigate and Redhill's next concert is "Summertime Classics" at the Harlequin Theatre, Redhill on Saturday June 22nd. I urge you to go and support this most excellent choir and conductor.

Ameral Gunson

For further information: call 01737 772811 or email info@rrcs.org.uk
	Reigate & Redhill Choral Society is affiliated to Making Music: The National Federation of Music Societies and gratefully acknowledges support received from the Borough of Reigate & Banstead Arts Council. Registered Charity No 280195

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