CHRISTMAS CAROL CONCERT

Trinity Methodist Drama and Music Fellowship

07.12.08

“Christmas carols being sung by a choir” - Mel Tormé's seasonal standard was just one of the enjoyable surprises at this traditional festive offering from Trinity.

Most fun was had with Rapping Paper, Ben Parry's ingenious and demanding look at Christmas presents – the packed audience worked almost as hard as the choir to make the words fit.

And there was a secular carol, too, The Very Best Time of the Year, by John Rutter, whose work will feature in most of this year's carol concerts. The same could be said of David Willcocks, whose arrangements Trinity used for the familiar carols in which the audience shared.

Paul Edwards' No Small Wonder is a new carol, already very popular with choirs around the world, given a touchingly sincere performance here by the choir, conducted by Susannah Edom.

Adam Sullivan, a former Trinity performer now at the Guildhall, was the baritone soloist in Vaughan Williams' Fantasia on Christmas Carols. A vigorous yet precise sound, especially from the gentlemen.

The other major work was Brother Heinrich's Christmas, also by Rutter. This little Cantata, narrated with consummate charm by Ken Rolf, tells the improbable story of a monk who befriends the monastery donkey and goes on to compose In Dulci Jubilo. With instrumental support from oboe and bassoon, it proved a highlight of the afternoon.

The choir was accompanied by Keith Byatt at the organ, and Simon Harvey at the piano.