After two years of Covid enforced absence, Newbury Choral Society returned to St Nicolas Church on Saturday 4th December to give a performance of Handel’s Messiah.

The choir and London Ulysses Orchestra were conducted by Cathal Garvey and accompanied by Steve Bowey on the organ.

The choir comprised 18 sopranos, 25 altos, 10 tenors and 10 basses, and soloists were soprano Rowan Pierce, alto Amy Lyddon, tenor Paul Austin Kelly and bass Paul Carey Jones.

The town's Christmas market provided a special seasonal backdrop to the forthcoming concert and as I waited for the concert to start, there was a palpable sense of anticipation in the audience.

Choir numbers were significantly lower than past Messiah performances, but my concern that volume and balance would suffer was quickly dispelled.

The choir were clearly rehearsed to perfection with crisp entries, secure performance, and clean finishes to each part. The orchestra, expertly led by Adrian Varela, were precise and sensitive to dynamics and supported rather than overwhelmed the singers. This was complemented by Steve Bowey on the organ adding depth and richness to the performance.

It was clear that the soloists were appreciative of the choir and orchestra balance. The soprano was expressive and had a good rapport with both audience and conductor almost to the extent that she was teasing both with the occasional extended pause.... The alto on occasion seemed less secure but had a tonality that was delightful and her duet with the tenor in “O death where is thy sting?” was beautifully balanced. The tenor showed his strength at the outset in “Comfort ye, my people” and never faltered throughout, and the bass likewise with a magnificent “The trumpet shall sound” ably supported by Gwyn Owen on the trumpet.

TThe audience stood for the Halleluiah Chorus which was delivered with volume, clarity, and precision. The Amen chorus delivered a fitting and glorious finale to a performance I believe the choir, orchestra and soloists all enjoyed, and I know the audience did who showed their appreciation with a standing ovation.

I have seen NCS perform Messiah in 2004, 2009 and 2015, but this was their best yet by far. Many congratulations to Cathal Garvey for delivering such a memorable performance after such a long absence.

We look forward to Haydn and Mozart on March 26th.