Magnificent magnificat
In their 50th year, choral society celebrate CV Stanford anniversary
Pangbourne Choral Society’s homage to CV Stanford on Saturday, March 9, at the Falkland Islands Memorial Chapel,
Pangbourne College
Review by PETER HAYWARD THIS was a perfect, carefully crafted programme honouring one of our most influential composers on the 100th anniversary of his death, in the year when PCS celebrates its 50th anniversary, in the imposing setting of the Falkland Islands Memorial Chapel.
The 85-strong choir was ably led by Sara Benbow, their new music director, and were joined by the excellent Southern Sinfonia Orchestra plus the celebrated tenor James Gilchrist with his superb accompanist Anna Tilbrook. Throughout the concert, Sara introduced each piece, explaining the connection to Stanford, with two main influencers being Brahms and Sullivan, and with ardent followers including Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Charles Wood, James MacMillan, Herbert Howells, George Dyson and Gerald Finzi.
The evening boded well with a fine performance of Den Alles Fliesch from Brahms’ German Requiem, powerful and harmonious singing, expressive conducting, conveying strong hope in resurrection. Few people will have realised that Stanford actually met Brahms and learnt much from him.
The choir then performed Arthur Sullivans’ All This Night Bright Angels Sing – the first of several unaccompanied pieces in which each voice part was exposed with no orchestral support.
Of the later a capella pieces, Howells’ Te Deum and Macmillan’s O Radiant Dawn were performed with panache and power. The dry acoustic of the oval-shaped chapel submitted to this harmonious persistence and yielded a noticeable echo, which gave added depth to what we were being treated to.
James Gilchrist, ably supported by Anna Tilbrook – one of Britain’s most exciting pianists – introduced us to three quite beautiful songs by
Muriel Gilbert, who was tutored by Stanford at the Royal College of Music.
James returned to perform the lyrical song of Chibiabos in the concluding scenes of Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast by Samuel ColeridgeTaylor, yet another triumphant performance by a well-balanced choir and orchestra
But let us not forget Charles Villiers Stanford’s Magnificat and Nunc Dimitis, which were quite magnificent with choir, organ and orchestra generating a rich and harmonious wall of resonant sound.
The concert was long and it was to the credit of all concerned that there was little sign of flagging, as one might have expected after almost three hours of performance.
It is impossible to do justice to the entire programme in a single review, and it is just a shame that it could not have been heard by a much larger audience.
PCS’ Golden Anniversary Gala Concert on June 22 should be another great occasion for celebration in tough times.
... let us not forget Charles Villiers Stanford’s Magnificat and Nunc Dimitis, which were quite magnificent with choir, organ and orchestra generating a rich and harmonious wall of resonant sound