Harborough Singers review - Exquisite reflections on the end of the day
Les Dodd reviews In the Evening Light, a concert by Harborough Singers at Market Harborough Methodist Church
Saturday evening at the Methodist church saw captivating and sensitive choral singing. A time for peace, reflections and perhaps a thought on what tomorrow might bring.
The Harborough Singers were in excellent form as they presented an appreciative audience with a delightful set of contrasting choral items, many of which will be performed on their concert tour to the Austrian capital, Vienna, in May.
On an evening of beautiful melodies, accomplished musical director Charlie Penn coaxed gloriously tuneful singing from the choir, supported by the wonderfully talented accompanist Andrew King on piano and organ.
From the opening, haunting, reflection of Crossing the Bar and Loch Lomond, exploring parting and longing, two items by Wood – the evocative Music When soft voices die and the striking dramatic resonance in Full Fathom Five – through to Cozzolani’s eight-part Magnificat, where the quality of the female voice sections was to the fore, the choir excelled throughout.
Three other thought-provoking numbers by modern choral composers completed the opening half – Upon You Heart, Earth Song and Dove’s Seek Him that Maketh the Seven Stars. All were beautifully sung, and hinted at our connectivity to nature and possibly something greater.
The second half was a tapestry of music from renowned composers – Bruckner’s Locus Iste and Durufle’s Ubi Caritas provided calm and serenity and Brahms’ Geistliches Lied (sacred song) and Mendelssohn’s Richte Mich Gott gave an enraptured audience drama and passion. By contrast arrangements of the spirituals Deep River and Get on Board were captivating messages of hope and comfort, again exquisitely performed.
This excellent evening of wonderful, expressive and thoughtful choral singing concluded with Brahms’ How lovely are thy dwellings, Rheinberger’s Abenlied (Evening Song) based around events on the road to Emmaus and Finzi’s My Spirit Sang all Day, three pieces promoting warmth, welcome, comfort and peace at the end of the day.
We wish the choir ‘viel gluck’ for their Vienna performances; on this form they do not need it and they surely will be greatly appreciated.
The concert took place on April 25. Visit harboroughsingers.com for details of future concerts.