ELGAR AND THE GREAT WAR

ELGAR AND THE GREAT WAR

in Brentwood Cathedral

05.07.14

This magnificent collaboration made a mightily impressive opening to the 2014 Brentwood Arts Festival.

Elgar's Spirit of England, written in the darkest days of the war, sets words by Laurence Binyon for massed choirs – here the Brentwood Choral Society, the Cathedral Singers, the Hutton and Shenfield Choral Society and the Ingatestone Choral Society – and soprano. Emily Onsloe's pure, powerful voice was heard to stunning effect, especially in the second movement, “To Women”, and echoing the familiar words of “For The Fallen” - We Will Remember Them. Wonderful to hear this unique wartime cantata live, in all its patriotic glory – dedicated by the composer “to the memory of our glorious men, with a special thought for the Worcesters”.

The concert, with support from the Elgar Society, included some lesser known works from the period: Carillon, a rallying cry from 1914, accompanies a poem by Emile Cammaerts, its mood ranging from dying leaves and sacrifice to martial vengeance. And Le Drapeau Belge in similar vein from three years later. The texts magnificently delivered by actor Malcolm Kimmance. We heard the familiar Sospiri, and Polonia, a sort of Pomp and Circumstance for Poland. The superb orchestra was the ELMS Symphony, conducted by Andrew Wright.

Brentwood student Julia Cockcroft joined them as soloist for Elgar's moving Cello Concerto, written in the aftermath of war, and deeply nostalgic. She played it with an eloquent legato, the phrasing in the Adagio third movement particularly poignant, while the orchestra, under David Pickthall, captured the elegiac majesty of Elgar's last great work.

THINGS TO COME - BRENTWOOD ARTS FESTIVAL

Brentwood Arts Festival 2014

An impressively ambitious programme of events in Brentwood this July to celebrate the arts and commemorate outbreak of the First World War.

Orchestral performances, art exhibitions, plays, yarn-bombing and much more is promised. Organised by the Brentwood Arts Council, the eight-day festivities run from July 5 to 12, bringing together a host of artistic groups from across the borough.

At Ingatestone Hall, there's A Midsummer Night's Dream in the open air and the Stondon Singers, who bring William Byrd back to his Catholic roots.

In the wonderful space of Brentwood Cathedral, we have Elgar And The Great War to open the Festival on July 5, and Karl Jenkins'  The Armed Man, A Mass for Peace, to close it on July 12. 

More information, and online booking, on the Festival website

http://brentwoodartsfestival.org.uk/

and you can find them on twitter, too

https://twitter.com/BwdArtsFestival

FAIRE IS THE HEAVEN

FAIRE IS THE HEAVEN

The Stondon Singers at Brentwood Cathedral

22.03.2014

Forsaking the familiar Blackmore Priory for the resonant box of Brentwood Cathedral, the Stondon Singers, directed by Christopher Tinker, presented an impressive programme of English Church music.

Beginning and ending with two majestic Handel coronation anthems – the substantial The King Shall Rejoice, and to start proceedings the ever-popular Zadok The Priest.

There was much intriguing cross-referencing: Parry's equally popular I Was Glad [glorious organ accompaniment from Stephen King] was contrasted with Purcell's more poignant setting, with the vocal parts blending beautifully in this acoustic. “Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem” was also heard in Herbert Howells' wartime setting. And Purcell's contemplative Hear My Prayer was set against Mendelssohn's Victorian version of the supplication, with Annabel Malton's pure soprano ringing thrillingly around the architecture.

E W Naylor's dramatic motet Vox Dicentis Clama, from 1911, was sung with admirable precision, the various voices clear and distinct.

The concert took its title from W H Harris's Spenser setting, written in 1925. It was good to hear the works presented uninterrupted, though we did miss the scholarly introductions, especially as there was little help in the programme.

The Stondon Singers are back on their home ground [St Peter and St Paul Stondon Massey] on July 1, for the annual William Byrd anniversary concert.