United behind the Messiah

Choral society and orchestra respond to the baton of new musical director

This is Newbury Choral Society's 125^th season and they chose Messiah in the 250^th anniversary year of the composer's death.

The concert was conducted by Cathal Garvey, recently appointed as musical director to the society and his reading of this popular, enduring work was noticeable for a highly satisfying musical unity, totally lacking in personal idiosyncrasies or overblown effects.

The overture was played with crisp, vibrant strings and a steady, comfortable tempo and that set the standard for the entire performance.  The choir were on good form throughout, responding intuitively to the conductor's baton and helping to achieve the unity that Garvey maintained so seamlessly throughout.

Elizabeth Atherton was impressive in the soprano solos, particularly the well known I Know That My Redeemer Liveth which seemed to bring out the very best of her expressive singing.

Music

Newbury Choral Society:  Messiah at St Nicolas' Church, Newbury, on Saturday, December 13

Playing their various solo parts, Annie Gill, David Webb and Quentin Hayes were always effective, with clear diction and a welcome absence of over-emphasis.
Clarity was also a welcome trait from the choir throughout, with the obvious danger spots averted neatly.  One notorious banana skin in this work is the danger of running words together in haste, particularly in the
 

The choir were on good form throughout, responding intuitively to the conductor's baton and helping to achieve the unity that Garvey maintained so seamlessly throughout

recital of For Unto Us A Child Is Born, which frequently produces what a previous conductor of this work for Southern Sinfonia described as 'runt' and 'wuss'.  No runt or wuss here folks, the words were exemplary throughout, as was the playing of the Southern Sinfonia, steady and smooth, with sturdy rhythms providing a lift that would propel any choir upwards and onwards. 

The rhythmic flow of the strings on Oh Thou That Tellest Good Tidings was a joy to hear and trumpet soloist Michael Harrison was brassily effective on The Trumpet Shall Sound. The dark, robust baritone of Quentin Hayes on Behold, I Shall Tell You A Mystery and The Trumpet Shall Sound represented his finest moments, but overall this was a splendid and thoroughly enjoyable ensemble performance, guided and sustained expertly by Newbury Choral Society's new musical director.

Derek Ansell

Newbury Weekly News, Thursday, December 17, 2009