Romsey Choral Society
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Romsey Choral Society in Town Charter Celebrations |
"Music lovers in and around Romsey are so fortunate to have such a beautiful building in which to enjoy choral performances – not least those presented by one of the most ambitious and accomplished choirs in the region. Romsey Abbey, this year celebrating 1100 years since its foundation, is a gift both for performers and audience alike and concerts by Romsey Choral Society under their director David Truslove are always well presented and attractive.
On Saturday 7th July, as the evening sun shone through the abbey windows onto the golden stone of the Norman arches, the audience sat in anticipation of a musical feast set in the most glorious surroundings.
In a change to the order of events, the concert began with Geoffrey Bush’s rarely performed In Praise of Mary, a setting of well-known mediaeval texts in a slightly unfamiliar musical idiom. Originally composed for full orchestra, choir and soprano soloist, on this occasion the work was performed by Romsey Choral Society with Olivia Robinson, the strings of the Chameleon Arts Orchestra and the abbey’s rather unforgiving nave organ. Unfamiliar to most of the audience, many appeared bemused by the work and perhaps at odds with the programme note’s assertion that this cantata is ‘unjustly neglected’.
A perfunctory performance of Purcell’s Chacony was followed by one of the great glories of the Italian baroque; Vivaldi’s wonderful setting of the Gloria. Here the choir shone, well supported by soloists Olivia Robinson, Elizabeth Poole and Stewart Conley-Harper and the Chameleon Arts Orchestra with notable instrumental solos from the oboe and cello.
After the interval the audience was treated to another baroque masterpiece, Handel’s setting of Psalm 110, Dixit Dominus. Accomplished singing from the outstanding Romsey Choral Society and virtuosic string playing made for a suitably impressive 2nd half of the concert which was supported by Romsey Town Council, celebrating the 400th anniversary of the town’s Royal Charter, Test Valley Arts Foundation and Borough Council, Hampshire County Council and the Arts Council of England. What a shame, though, that it was not better supported by the people of Romsey."
Andy Phillips