WOKINGHAM Choral Society returned to St Paul’s Church, Wokingham for its latest concert on Saturday, March, 19.
Its charismatic conductor, James Morley-Potter, directed an unusual combination of musical resources: the choir – in customary fine voice – Benedict Lewis-Smith (organ virtuoso accompanist), Cecily Beer (harp), Lucy McKay (violin), Chris Terepin (cello), Alice Halberd (soprano) and Michael Hickman (baritone).
The programme comprised three works, opening with Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, a quirky and lyrical setting of Hebrew Psalms, including the Lord is my shepherd, probably unfamiliar to many in the audience.
This was followed by Vaughan William’s Five Mystical Songs, a composition firmly rooted in the English choral tradition and an apt choice 150 years from his birth.
The second half of the concert was devoted to Fauré’s greatly loved Requiem, given striking freshness by an arrangement using all the musical resources present.
The enjoyment of the audience was palpable in the reception given at the end of the evening.
The next concert by the Society, celebrating its seventieth anniversary, will be Bach’s Mass in B Minor in the Great Hall of Reading University, on Saturday, June 25.
RJE
