Forthcoming Concerts & Events
Our Next Concert:FAURÉ, POULENC, JONGEN AND CHILCOTTSaturday 13th March 2010 Features Fauré’s popular Cantique de Jean Racine, Poulenc’s tender and moving Lenten motets, Joseph Jongen’s lyrical, organ accompanied Mass Op. 130 & Bob Chilcott’s short Missa ‘Cantate. 7.30 pm Our Spring concert features Fauré’s popular Cantique de Jean Racine, which was written in 1865 when he was only 19. The remainder of the programme dates from the 20th Century. Poulenc’s tender and moving Lenten motets, Quatre motets pour le temps de penitence (Four Penitential Motets), were written after the death of a friend in a tragic accident in 1936, and are sung a capella. The Belgian composer Joseph Jongen’s lyrical, organ accompanied Mass Op. 130 was, in contrast, inspired by a happier event: the release of his son from Buchenwald. Influenced by both Fauré and Franck, it was first performed in 1946 without the Credo, but was not performed in full until 1991. Bob Chilcott’s short Missa ‘Cantate’ was written in 2006 for the Cantate Youth Choir and reflects Chilcott’s enjoyment of the drama, colour and sense of devotion of the text. Tickets £12 (£10 Under 18s, Seniors) *** Buy tickets online now *** OR from Manns Music, Colchester or Choir members. |
Future Concerts:
SATURDAY 26TH JUNE 2010
7.30 pm Dedham Parish Church
SUMMER SERENADE
We visit Dedham Parish Church for our popular summer concert, which gives us the opportunity to explore the lighter side of the vocal repertoire
SATURDAY 27TH November 2010
7.30 pm St Botolph's Church, Colchester
Bach B minor Mass
Sunday 12th December 2010
3.30 pm Colchester Town Hall
WASSAIL!
Reviews for Previous Concerts:
The Creation - Haydn
Saturday 28th November 2009
'Stunning performance - Choral Society on top form. Terrific visiting soloists. I wish the performance had been recorded so I could listen to it again'.
'Wonderful performance - the sound was great. More chorus next time please, they are my favourite bit!'
Beethoven -
Missa Solemnis
Saturday November 25th 2006 7.30pm
Review by Jackie Wallace for the Essex County Standard.
This immensely powerful mass setting by Beethoven, with its full-on emotional intensity and complex scoring, is not a task for the faint-hearted, and Colchester Choral Society and Sinfonia together with four first rate soloists, set their sights high to achieve a totally convincing performance under the inspiring direction of lan Ray.
From the confidently-stated opening bars of the Kyrie, an impressive level of energy and enthusiasm was maintained throughout with sustained pleas from the chorus overlaid by urgent solo interjections for mercy. The magnificent pace and momentum of the Gloria produced a whirlwind of excited praise, interspersed with pockets of lyrical relief from the soloists, and culminating in a well-controlled fugue with nicely punched-out entries from the choir.
An equally overwhelming degree of impassioned sincerity infused the Credo. A notably fervent Et Incamatus, and a most poignant Crucifixus featured wonderful contributions from the soloists and the choir dealt admirably with the fiendishly difficult fugal setting of Et Vitam Venturi.
These unrelenting affirmations of faith then yielded to a moving Sanctus and a truly sublime Benedictus.
The soloists. Sally Silver, Elizabeth Sikora, Justin Lavender and Keel Watson worked beautifully as a finely blended and balanced quartet to create a truly reverential atmosphere, which was enhanced by an exquisitely expressive violin solo from Jessie Ridley, and an extremely sensitive orchestral accompaniment.
Keel Watson's sombre supplication for mercy opened the Agnus Dei and was taken up by his fellow soloists. The choir then successfully transformed the mood to one of joyful expectation, and brought the work to a hopeful conclusion.
The long-lasting applause from a capacity audience said it all - a stirring performance.