Thames Philarmonic Choir - review (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)

Thames Philarmonic Choir - review

12:51pm Wednesday 4th March 2009 in Music

Thames Philarmonic Choir's Spring Concert at All Saints’ Church, Kingston

On the evening of Saturday, February 27, All Saints’ Church, Kingston, was the venue for a delightful concert given by the Thames Philharmonic Choir and Festival Orchestra, directed as always by John Bate, to open the 2009 season.

Recitals of three works were given - Vivaldi's Gloria of Vivaldi, Mozart's Eine Kleine Nachtmusic and Bach's Mass in G Major.

The Gloria opened with the choir demonstrating their lightness of touch combined with delicacy of emotion that made this an arresting opening. Such sensitivity continued in the arias and duets to follow, with Eleanor Dennis (soprano) and Rosie Aldridge (alto) giving competent, clear and moving performances.

The choir sounded confident and the final movement was a fugue with a smile on its face characterising the gaiety of this performance.

The strings of Thames Festival Orchestra played the Mozart to follow, and this familiar work was distinctive for its fine shading and phrasing.

The Bach Mass was less well-known, and technically difficult in places. The former soloists were joined in this by John McMunn (tenor) and Philip Tebb (bass). The steady contrapuntal style and twisting chromatics of the opening chorus was held well by the choir, and they danced through the following Gloria. The soprano and alto duet blended excellently, and the final chorus was a burst of glory at its conclusion.

The evening was a fine beginning to the year’s music, and we look forward to further riches from these musicians in 2009.

M N Woodroffe