EARLY next month, Reading’s Concert Hall will be filled once again with the sound of music.
It is something that has been rarely heard over the past couple of years, as covid precautions meant choirs fell silent.
The South Chiltern Choral Society is teaming up with Parenthesis and the Reading Symphony Orchestra for their first public performance since the pandemic.
With nearly 100 voices in the society, it will certainly be a sound to enjoy.
The programme includes Faure’s Requiem, Debussy’s La Mer and Neilsen’s Helios Overture, each designed to showcase the strengths of the groups, and make the most of the sound that the concert hall provides.
The concert provides the society the chance to reflect and move forward.
The group’s chair, Richard Larkin, says: “Until last September, we were rehearsing using Zoom. It was amazing how keen people were to sing, even in that rather constrained environment.”
A visit to Waterperry Gardens in Oxfordshire last September provided them the chance to sing for the first time in 18 months.
“That was a brilliant thing to do, everyone enjoyed that immensely,” Richard says. “It was just nice to sing again.”
That was the starting point for resuming in person rehearsals at Chiltern Edge School, something they do on Mondays and they welcome new members. But covid rules meant they were socially distanced. Well anti-socially for a choir, as Richard explains:
“The school assembly hall had poor acoustics, it was very flat. It’s so much better to be a closer together, you can hear the parts so much better, whereas you are in a bit of a vacuum (spaced apart).”
The group have been rehearsing together since January, but it won’t be until this week that they get together with Parenthesis and the Symphony Orchestra, and Richard can’t wait to be in the Concert Hall, in Reading’s town centre.
“It’s a great place to sing. It’s a splendid outlook from the bench seats where we sit, looking into the auditorium,” he explains.
The Father Willis Organ, the centrepiece of the hall, is a bit redundant this time, as they are bringing in a separate organ that has all the right stops and the sound they need.
The programme has been chosen by the society’s conductor, Paul Berg – “he has wonderful experience in choosing music”.
Richard said they had considered Beethoven’s Ninth, but Richard’s research found that another choir was planning to perform it. “We put our hats on again, and we thought about what we have enjoyed singing together in the past. Faure is absolutely top of the list. It’s such a beautiful, evocative piece, and it’s gorgeous to sing.
“I think the audience also enjoy it, it creates this beautiful image of peace and tranquility which is very special. I like French music very much, it fits my personal taste as well.
“La Mar was chosen by the orchestra, and it fits again with the French connection.”
This concert is also part of a celebration: one that was delayed by the virus.
“We meant to have our 70th anniversary last year, but it just wasn’t feasible due to covid,” Richard says.
Sadly, it will be without a mainstay of the society: Gwyn Arch, a former musical director, died last year. He had been awarded the OBE for services to music in Berkshire back in 2006.
“He was our musical director until 2014,” Richard says. “He was the South Chiltern’s persona for 49 years, so it’s with a touch of sadness that we come this anniversary.”
One senses that he would have approved of the society’s continuing mission to present high standards of music wherever they perform and, all being well, that includes tours to France and Belgium in the next two years.
“I’m currently trying to see if we can sing in the Sunday Mass at Bruges Cathedral,” he says.
For now though, it’s not so much about crossing the sea, but ensuring smooth sailing over La Mer.
The concert takes place on Saturday, April 2, at Reading’s Concert Hall in Blagrave Street from 7.30pm. The conductor will be Stefan Hofkes, and Ian Westley will be the organist. Tickets cost from £15.50, with student seats £10.
For more details, or to book, log on to whatsonreading.com or call the box office on 0118 960 6060.
