ON Saturday, the non-auditioned Newbury Choral Society was accompanied by Covent Garden Chamber Orchestra, one of London’s leading non-professional orchestras.
This evening happily introduced me to two things I hadn’t encountered before. The CGCO and Puccini’s Messa di Gloria. And I am very pleased to have now met them both.
I have heard the NCS twice before in the past year, and both times, I was very impressed with them and their charismatic conductor Cathal Garvey. When you consider that they don’t audition members, it’s remarkable that their standard is so high.
The evening started with Parry’s Blest Pair of Sirens. Parry wrote the well-known Jerusalem and the Coronation anthem I was glad, and was president of the Royal College of Music for 23 years till his death. His pupils included Vaughan Williams, Holst and Frank Bridge.
The Parry was stunning in the richness of its texture. I had already heard NCS performing it in March and they were very good then, but they only had a string quartet to accompany them. This time, the addition of the CGCO made a huge difference. It was sung just as well on Saturday, the wallful of lush, rich sound was worth wallowing in and getting totally absorbed.
Next was Mozart’s 40th Symphony. The last time I heard this was about 30 years ago, when I got bored because the opening section was overused in the popular media. But CGCO’s performance was magnificent, full of exciting dynamism.
After the interval, the choralists and orchestra launched into Puccini’s Messa di Gloria. The composer is best known for his operas including La Bohème and Tosca. He wrote this piece of sacred music in 1880, when he was only 22, and it wasn’t performed again until 70 years later.
It’s an amazing piece of music – dramatic, rich and powerful. We were introduced to two fabulous soloists – David Butt Philip (tenor), and Ashley Riches (baritone/bass). They were both very impressive. Controlled, focused, powerful, and perfectly synchronised when singing together.
A very enjoyable evening, as the very full audience enthusiastically confirmed.
www.newburychoral.org.uk
www.cgco.org.uk
