REVIEW

Weymouth Choral Society Music of Majesty concert

St Paul’s Church, Weymouth

Musical Director - Helen Brind

With a programme fit for any royal occasion, this concert must surely be the first local musical celebration for the forthcoming Coronation of King Charles III.

In the beautiful setting of St Paul’s Church, Weymouth Choral Society sang to a full house, joined by soloists, Nicola Burley (soprano), Leah Page (alto), Jonathan Valender (tenor) and Gareth Jones (bass). They were accompanied by Winston Leese (trumpet), Simon Earl (organ) and Louise Dukes (piano).

The first half of this concert flew by all too quickly. ‘Rejouissance’ from Handel’s ‘Music for the Royal Fireworks’ opened the concert in regal style, superbly performed by Winston Leese on trumpet.

This was followed by numbers that showcased the exceptionally high standard of singing by both choir and soloists, from the gentle and contemplative ‘Make me a channel of your peace’ adeptly led by school student Leah Page, to the Hallelujah chorus from Handel’s ‘Messiah’.

‘Be still for the Presence of the Lord’ displayed the choir’s considerable skills in singing acapella.

Gareth Jones’s introduction to Finzi’s Summer Chances and Rollicum Rorum, delivered with humour, explained the composer’s local settings of the poems of Thomas Hardye, warming the appreciative audience to his lively rendition of them.

Ralph Vaughan Williams’ setting of the Old 100th psalm for the 1953 coronation of Queen Elizabeth II with splendid accompaniment from Simon Earl on organ and Winston Leese on trumpet sent shivers down my spine.

Much praise must go to Louise Dukes in the first half of the concert. Her astounding keyboard skills contributed greatly to the evening’s success.

Perhaps a surprising inclusion was Nessun Dorma from Puccini’s ‘Turandot’. However, Andrea Bocelli sang it as a tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II at last year’s Platinum Jubilee Party and so it earned its place in the programme.

This was sung with skill and gusto by tenor, Jonathan Valender and had the audience swaying in their seats. I suspect Weymouth Choral also enjoyed accompanying him in the chorus!

If Nessun Dorma had the audience swaying in their seats, the opening of the second half of this concert had all the audience gripped and still. Walton’s ‘Crown Imperial’ was played with energy and passion by Simon Earl.

Indeed, the second half of this programme really highlighted the delightful voice of soprano, Nicola Burley. During Handel’s Let the Bright Seraphim from ‘King Arthur’ and throughout Mozart’s ‘Coronation Mass’, her dulcet tones resonated. The Mass’s crisp but flowing rhythms kept the audience entranced and the choir demonstrated their expertise with the complex demands of this glorious composition. Neither the choir nor soloists could have performed so well without the superb sound of the organ played magnificently by Simon Earl. However, it seemed to finish all too soon.

Many thanks to Musical Director Helen Brind, who put together such a wonderful programme and conducted the performers with great dexterity and sensitivity.

See Weymouth Choral Society's next performance A Summer Serenade on Saturday, June 10 at 3pm at St Aldhelm’s Church Centre, Spa Road, Weymouth

Visit www.weymouthchoralsociety.org.uk for more details