WALTHAM
SINGERS
Christmas
Concert at the Parish Church
08.12.2012
A
Yuletide cornucopia from Andrew Fardell and the Waltham Singers,
avoiding the obvious and celebrating the coming of the Light of the
World.
James
MacMillan's muscular O Radiant Dawn made an impressive opener, one of
several works by living composers, including Colin Mawby's
late-flowering Romantic Ave Maria, Morten Lauridsen's hypnotic O
Magnum Mysterium, and Eric Whitacre's justly famous Lux Aurumque,
performed with filigree-fine vocal textures.
With
the Meridian Sinfonia, the Singers gave us a fine Vivaldi Gloria to
finish, with solos from Geoff Coates' oboe, Richard Fomison's natural
trumpet, Sarah Potter, soprano, and Edward McMullan, counter-tenor,
who also sang But Who May Abide, from Messiah, before the choir's For
Unto Us, beautifully realised, the placing of the voices bringing out
the drama and the power of Handel's choral writing.
Under
Andrew Fardell, their Musical Director for the past 30 years, the
Waltham Singers' sound is strong, agile and disciplined; their
audience packed the church. They celebrate 40 years in 2013, with
Verdi's Requiem in Chelmsford Cathedral.
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