Joyous, wonderful evening of music making is audience pleaser

Aliquando Chamber Choir — Glorious Melodies
St Mary’s Church, Henley
Saturday, November 8

ALIQUANDO Chamber Choir’s concert was entitled “Glorious Melodies”, with musical director Anne Evans stating in the programme introduction, “We have a wonderful programme for you tonight, with our superb soloists and instrumentalists, so I hope you enjoy it.” Well, what a glorious evening it turned out to be.

The first half opened with Franz Biebl’s glorious Ave Maria, Angelus Domini with Biebl’s clever management of the voices into what was effectively two choirs. The opening phrase was given to the full choir of men, which was then taken up by the ladies, and finally brought together in an upsurge of joyous harmony. The Agnus Dei from Matthew Coleridge’s Requiem was gentle and greatly enhanced by the beautifully tender cello solo by Jackie Ratcliff.

By this early stage the audience had settled back to enjoy what they had already decided was going to be a wonderful evening of music making, and to reinforce this perception the choir continued with several Karl Jenkins favourite motets, And The Mother Did Weep, Cantate Domino and Ave Verum.

King David, the poem by Walter de la Mare and set to music by Herbert Howells, featured the impressive bass baritone Daniel Tate and talented pianist Ian Westley, which received enthusiastic applause from the audience.

The spectacular piece Judex (The Judge), from Mors et Vita, written by Charles Gounod, described as one of the most beautiful selections of music, gave the orchestra, led by Amanda Sadler, the chance to make the most of its powerful and soaring melody and end the first half in style.

In the second half the orchestra came into its own, as did Westley’s amazing work as accompanist throughout the evening, a task often referred to as the glue that holds everything together.

Continuing the programme was the ever favourite Glow by Eric Whitacre, followed by Edward Elgar’s The Snow, written in three-part harmony for high voices with a violin duet obligato played skilfully by Amanda Sadler and Christina Beals, and it was obvious that the ladies relished coming together to make the most of Elgar’s elegant harmonies.

Tenor Alex Haigh and Tate’s rendition of the Pearl Fishers’ Duet, where they ruefully reflect on their past competing romantic feelings for the same beautiful priestess, while remaining true friends together, was a standout moment which received prolonged appreciative applause.

Léo Delibes’ Flower Duet brought together the replacement soprano soloist Eloise Irving and Rosemary Clifford to perform this difficult but exquisite duet, which they sang with total understanding of the music and sentiments involved. Charpentier’s baroque Te Deum in D major was sung as written with all 10 movements which may have come as a surprise to those only familiar with the Prelude, as popularised by the European Song Contest. It served to make a truly magnificent end to the evening, living up to its moment of glory.

The evening’s concert was in aid of Helen and Douglas House, which helps local families cope with the challenges of looking after a terminally ill baby or child. The staff operated a retiring collection, which was generously supported. The following comments from the audience upon leaving are reliably reported as including, “I just wanted to say huge congratulations for a triumphant concert, as an audience member, I thoroughly enjoyed every minute”, “Thank you so much for a wonderful concert, so exhilarating”, “What an incredible evening of fabulous voices and music,” “It’s amazing to learn that the choir, accompanist, orchestra and soloists only came together at the afternoon rehearsal to produce a marvellous feast of music — how do they do it?”

Aliquando Chamber Choir has been entertaining Henley residents since 2009, singing good music for a good cause, having raised more than £75,000 to date for charities. Many in the audience said this was the best concert Aliquando has ever delivered. Glorious melodies indeed.

Terry Grourk