Romsey Choral Society
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From the Romsey Advertiser... |
"Anyone who has walked through Romsey town centre after dark in recent weeks could not fail to be inspired by the beautiful display of Christmas lights - surely the best for miles around? What better way to set the scene for the Festive Season and an evening of clear, crisply sung Christmas music?
Romsey Choral Society provided just such an evening on Saturday 11 December at the United Reformed Church, Romsey. The concert, which was attended by the Mayor and Mayoress of Test Valley, the Mayor of Romsey and local MP, Mrs Sandra Gidley, was a continuation of the choir’s busy programme for the year, which has included performances of Bach’s Mass In B Minor and Mozart’s Requiem in Romsey Abbey.
Saturday’s concert - given in response to requests from previous concert goers - was the choir’s first ever carol concert. The programme comprised a clever blend of sacred and secular Christmas music, with conductor David Truslove encouraging audience participation with many well known favourites such as Once in Royal David’s City and O Little Town of Bethlehem. The music was interspersed with readings from a wide range of classic and contemporary texts, including ‘Cider with Rosie’ by Laurie Lee and ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’ by JK Rowling. The final reading, the humorous alternative version of ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ by John Julius Norwich, provided immense entertainment to all present.
The church, newly decorated with Christmas tree and crib, set the atmosphere for the evening. Following a warm welcome by the Rev. Terry Hinks, the concert opened with the haunting fifteenth century chant ‘Adam lay ybounden’ with David Truslove, as always, coaxing the very best standard from his singers. The programme continued with ‘Jesus Christ the apple tree’ and ‘Tomorrow shall be my dancing day’, repertoire featured on the Choral Society’s debut CD*, ‘Joy to the World’, released only four weeks ago.
Accompanying the choir was the talented organist Richard Scott-Copeland, who delighted the audience with his dexterity and improvisation skills. Traditional hymns and carols included ‘Hark the herald angels sing’ and ‘The holly and the ivy’, the latter involving solo contributions from no less than ten of the choir members. The first half of the concert concluded with everyone joining with the choir in a robust performance of ‘God rest you merry gentlemen’, the strains of which must have drifted out to the town centre to add to the glory of the lights.
After the interval we were treated to the choir’s versatility with a beautiful and tender performance of the German carol ‘Still, still, still’ and a rousing rendition of the mediaeval revel ‘Sir Christèmas’. The children’s favourite, ‘Away in a Manger’, provided an opportunity for those children present to step forward and join the choir. Twenty-one brave souls took up the challenge and sang heartily, some even proffering accompanying actions learnt at school!
The final hymn of the evening, ‘O come all ye faithful’, was sung enthusiastically by everyone present and just as we thought, sadly, that the evening was coming to a close, the choir offered three further close harmony Christmas favourites (all on their CD!), by means of an encore: ‘Chestnuts roasting on an open fire’, ‘Have yourself a merry little Christmas’ and ‘Winter Wonderland’. A fitting end to a wonderful, seasonal evening which was enjoyed and appreciated by all present."
Review by Diana Harris.