Romsey Choral Society
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From the Romsey Advertiser Friday November 25th 2005... |
"This is the season of the year when thoughts turn to performances of Handel's great oratorio Messiah and the first of several planned in the county was given by Romsey Choral Society, in association with Music in Romsey, on the eve of Remembrance Sunday. Greatly benefiting from the splendid setting of the town's historic Abbey, it was generously supported by Test Valley Arts Foundation in memory of the late Michael Colvin, the inaugural chairman who, with his wife, tragically lost their lives in a house fire five years ago, while additional support came from Arts Council England.
This was an outstanding performance in every way. Conductor David Truslove had painstakingly rehearsed the eighty strong choir and their alert response to his clear directions enabled him to introduce many subtle dynamic shadings. The four soloists, Ciara Hendrick (soprano), Iestyn Davies (counter-tenor), James Oxley (tenor), and Jozic Koc (baritone), all made very distinguished contributions in the many recitatives and arias, while throughout, Chameleon Arts Orchestra gave the sort of backing which supported the opinion of many that it is the premier orchestra devoted to the performance of Choral works.
Buoyant open textures were a continual feature and the tempi set by the conductor entirely suited the dance-like rhythms of several choruses, for example And the Glory of the Lord. Restraint in the final choruses also made the ultimate climaxes all the more telling. James Oxley's clear projection, shown in his opening (memorised) recitative and aria, never failed to impress, while the expressive and artistic approach of Iestyn Davies was quite remarkable in all its utterances. The bright and clear tone of Ciara Hendrick was very appropriate to recitatives near the close of Part I and the introduction of the semi-chorus for And Suddenly had particular effect. Flexibility and poise marked I know that my Redeemer Liveth.
Why do the Nations? from Jozic Koc was a model of clear articulation at speed and his partnership with the trumpet in The trumpet shall sound was a close liaison. It was good to hear less familiar sections, of which the finely balanced duet for counter-tenor and tenor O Grave Where is thy Sting, the soprano aria with violin obligato If God be for us and the counter-tenor Thou Art Gone up on high were all of the highest order. The fine choir and all other participants are to be congratulated in offering a performance that was a refreshing approach to an oft-sung work, and one which maintained interest from start to finish."
Eric and Joan Wood.