Fitting farewell to pianist Frank

This Scarborough Choral Society’s Christmas Concert marked the last appearance of Frank James as their official accompanist.

His talent was evident with the challenging and technically difficult piano accompaniment to the 1948 Cantata St Nicolas by Benjamin Britten.

The solo role of St Nicholas was impeccably and dramatically sung by soloist Michael Solomon Williams, tenor, who has appeared with the society on numerous occasions.

The story recounts Nicolas’s life from his birth and childhood, through legends of his miraculous works, to him being made Bishop of Myra in Turkey.

This was a challenging work for the choir, both rhythmically and harmonically, but with conductor Evelyn Halford’s clear indications and tight control, it proved to be a convincing and moving performance.

There was an effective contribution by choristers from Bridlington Priory: Daniel Marr as the boy Nicolas, and James Collinson, Matthew Overend, and Matthew Leach as the pickled boys, restored to life by Nicolas’s miraculous intervention.

The congregation joined in the singing of ‘God moves in a mysterious way’ to bring the work to a rousing conclusion.

Thanks were expressed to Frank for his support over the years. A presentation was made, and the audience gave him a thoroughly-deserved standing ovation.

Frank responded by playing the Christmas Song and his own inimitable interpretation of Winter Wonderland as it might have sounded if written by Mozart, Johann Strauss, and Beethoven.

This was followed by Joy to the World by Karl Jenkins, a new choral sequence of nine popular traditional carols from around the world. These varied arrangements differed in style from the opening rhythmic and exultant In Dulci Jubilo to the restrained quietness of Silent Night, and a bright calypso version of The Virgin Mary had a Baby Boy. Solo parts were sung by Catherine Cowens, and Joanne and Roger Gibson.