Concert Review of Judas Maccabaeus

This review was submitted to The Ilford Recorder but did not make the issue for W/E 10.04.11

As with most works by Handel, his oratorio Judas Maccabaeus oozes quality. The performance by Valentine Singers in the comfortable surroundings of St Gabriel's Church, Aldersbrook matched that quality from beginning to end.

Handel sets the scene with an overture and then continues to tell the audience the story of the second century B.C. Maccabean revolt through a series of recitatives, airs and choruses. Of the five fine soloists Jane Streeton and Paul Sheehan stood out with their assured delivery and unfailing quality.

The Jericho Ensemble was also excellent throughout.Wonderfully crisp and responsive, they laid a sure foundation for the soloists and chorus.

Valentine Singers is a fine choir - from their sensitive opening chorus to the joyous final Hallelujah, Amen (sung from memory) they displayed all that is good about choral singing, and their commitment and professionalism was evident right through this long, taxing oratorio. Conductor Christine Gwynn is not one to shirk a challenge - all credit to her for again bringing a major work to Redbridge, and with such style.

The next Valentine Singers concert - Music from Stage and Screen - takes place on Saturday 2nd July in Barnardos Church, Barkingside - pencil it in your diary!

John Buckmaster

Interesting concert

Some news from Laura Pease of a concert which VS members might be intrested in


Thursday evening at St Martin in the Field
American choral music including both versions of 'O nata lux', Songs and Sonnets and 'Sure on This Shinng Night' amongst other short items by other US composers

Tickets still available at St Martins web site stmartin-in-the-field.org


Thanks Laura

Samuel (Sure on this shining night) Barber

Not sure if anybody realised that 2010 is the centenary of Samuel Barbers birth. There is an interesting article about his life and music in today's Guardian (19th November) by the British pianist Leon McCawley
You can read it at http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/nov/18/samuel-barber

Over the moon with singers’ night shift

Valentine Singers were in nocturnal mood at Barnados Church on Saturday with a programme of music and words focused around the theme of night.

Nocturne included a cappella and accompanied vocal music, piano solos, and readings by members of the choir.

The varied items explored aspects of the night – its atmosphere, sounds and colours – as well as some of its more illicit activities, as in Kipling’s familiar poem, A Smuggler’s Song, expressively read by Pat Pretious.

Musical director Christine Gwynn drew well-controlled performances out of her singers, particularly with the lush harmonies of part songs by Elgar, Barnby and Sullivan, where tuning and blend were at their best.

A set of six vocal Nocturnes by Mozart showed off the choir’s potential for drama, charting the phases of a passionate love affair with plenty of vocal colour and dynamic range, as well as attention to the Italian diction, which was commendably clear. This was also notable in the choir’s delightful rendering of Vecchi’s Fa una canzona, which opened the concert.

Among the readings, I particularly enjoyed The Night Mail, W. H. Auden’s word-picture of the mail train’s journey with its precious cargo of letters. (Hard to imagine anyone writing a similar poem about The E-Mail!)

Soprano Clare Gailans and pianist Tim Smith gave a spacious and compelling performance of Britten’s Nocturne from On this Island.

And, for me, the Highlight of a pleasing evening’s entertainment was Smith’s eloquent account of Debussy’s Clair de Lune. It transported me from a hard pew and a damp chilly Ilford into the ravishing French moonlight.

MANDY BENTLEY - ILFORD RECORDER

Reviews of other concerts can be seen here www.valentinesingers.org/rev.html

The first outing of our promotional banner

on the grass area outside Barnardos Church

NOCTURNE

NOCTURNE

with Valentine Singers and friends
Conductor: Christine Gwynn

Piano: Tim Smith

Saturday 13^th November 7.30pm

The Barnardos Church, Tanners Lane, Barkingside IG6 1QG

An evening of words and music of the night - nocturnes, lullabies, serenades and more - featuring music by Mozart, Chopin, Sullivan, Gershwin and Debussy and poetry by Shakespeare, Kipling and Auden

www.valentinesingers.org 
Box office: 020 8501 0695

Full details on poster or via the choir’s website

News from ENO Baylis

The next ENO Baylis 'Know the Show' event is due to take place next January, although a date has not yet been fixed.
To get an idea of the flavour of these events there are pictures at http://www.flickr.com/photos/eno-baylis/sets/72157624811202206/ and videos at http://www.youtube.com/englishnationalopera of the recent event in August. Click on the 'Know the Show August 2010' icon to see videos of the opera choruses we rehearsed and of the parallel events for children.
The choruses were from Gounod Faust, Handel Radamisto and Coronation Anthems , Puccini La Boheme and Madame Butterfly, and Mozart Don Giovanni. We were led by Richard Frostick (free-lance music animateur) and Martin Fitzpatrick (ENO head of music) with Ben Frost at the piano.
The ENO is about to introduce two schemes that will allow adults to attend specific opera performances whilst their children/grandchildren etc. are otherwise entertained. 'Opera Tots' is for pre-school children aged 6 months to 4 years in a professional cheche, and 'Opera Stars' is a fun introduction to opera for those aged 7 to 12.
There was also some talk of a 'Community Choir' being set up by ENO Baylis.

You can find information about all the ENO's participatory events at http://www.eno.org/explore.