Concert Review: March 2009

Our Concert on 28th March was reviewed in the Bucks Herald and the review is reproduced here.

AYLESBURY Choral Society celebrated the 250th anniversary of Handel's death with a performance of Israel in Egypt on Saturday March 28 at the Atrium of Aylesbury College.

According to conductor Peter Leech’s notes, it is thought that Part 2, The Song of Moses, was intended to be an anthem but that, in need of a new oratorio, Handel introduced the original Part 1, only ever performed once, and Part 2, now Part 1, listing the plagues of Egypt.

Part 1 didn’t really get going until the plagues of frogs, flies - admirably characterised by the strings - hailstones and fire.

Part 2 was an entirely different proposition, with real punch to it from the start. The Choral Society was in great form with powerful singing throughout, particularly in the double choruses. They had to work extremely hard, as another quirk of this piece is that it provides very little for the soloists.

Soprano Sarah Redgwick was particularly outstanding in her final solo, while alto Caryl Hughes had fun with the frogs. Tenor Neil Griffths and baritone Simon Lobelson were excellent in their duet, the only contribution from the latter.

The capacity audience thoroughly enjoyed it, although the conversation about the music was matched by comments on the venue - an experiment for the Choral Society watched with interest by other local music societies.

For creature comforts the Atrium is undoubtedly preferable to St Mary’s, but while it is difficult for any acoustic to equal that of a medieval church, the sound was surprisingly impressive with the different sections of the choir and instruments of the Frideswide Ensemble coming across loud and clear.

I did have my doubts at first, but Part 2 swept them away: perhaps Handel would have done better to stick to Plan A!