Newbury Choral Society: Brahms Requiem
Conductor Joe Tobin, Baritone Alexander Bower-Brown, Soprano Isabelle Haile, piano duet Steve Bowie and Sue Garcia-Sierra.
The melodies are sweeping and swooping, the choral textures thick and the harmonies are consistently shifting and lusciously romantic, often moving to unexpected keys. It is in seven movements, three of which contain fugues, Brahmsian fugues, academic in approach, which do not always go as expected. The soprano tessitura is often high. The whole work is physically and emotionally demanding. Each movement is a long sustained sing. The Christian text is from the Lutheran Bible but the work is not liturgical. Brahms himself said it is a humanist Requiem.

Congratulations to the NCS for taking on the challenge! There were so many good points.

Diction was clear. Attention was paid to the 'colour' of the words and their meaning. There was good ensemble and balance of choral parts in the homophonic sections, despite their being twice as many women as men. Precise care was given to the length of notes, i.e. when to start and when to finish, essential for choral cohesion. There was constant, excellent observance of dynamics.
Much of the phrasing was in true Brahms style with a genuine flowing rise and fall. Nearly all the eyes were on the conductor. The conductor chose some excellent tempi and had a clear beat. Overall the exuberance of the faster movement was portrayed well.
The soprano and baritone soloists both at the start of their careers sang with ease of voice and understanding of the text. Alexander Bower-Brown, baritone, was totally compelling with a rich and focused tone and vocal control.

Isabelle Hail, soprano had a clean tone and excellent breath control. The voice gained great warmth the higher it went.
The evening was ably accompanied by Steve Bowie and Sue Garcia-Sierra, piano duet. Brahms wrote the piano duet version himself for when orchestral forces are not available.
Joe Tobin conductor led with relaxed confidence.
But the choir became tired as the work progressed and the sheer stamina required For this tour-de-force was not always available, causing a severe sagging in the intonation. And, at times, the extremely taxing fugues became rather muddled. The Newbury Choral Society is one of the bedrocks of Newbury. Formed in 1884 and still going very strong. It deserves the large audiences it draws. Good luck for the next 140 years!