Choral Concert

There was something for everyone in the end of term concert last week. Director of Music Colin Albery had planned a programme packed with variety, provided by the school orchestra and chapel choir.

After Two Processional Fanfares by Elgar Howarth, the orchestra showed it was in fine form with Shostakovich's Festive Overture. The brass in particular were solid and powerful, but there was nimble playing from the wind too.

Alexandra Wynn was the soloist in Mozart's Laudate Dominum, sensitively accompanied by James Campbell at the organ. Her clear tone sent the high registers ringing through the King's Chapel, and the choir too gave glimpses of what was to come.

Gabrieli's Sonata Pian' e forte for brass was beautifully blended, and as the title suggests, there were suitable dynamic contrasts, as indeed there were in Stanley Myers' Cavatina, with a particularly lush sound from strings.

Sibelius' Finlandia had an arresting opening from brass and percussion, but also warm, lyrical playing from the whole of the wind section. An hors d'oeuvre of a beautifully phrased Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring led the way to the main event of the evening, a performance of John Rutter's Gloria.

This was written by the ever-popular choral composer in 1974, and is based on a plainsong associated with the opening phrase of Gloria in excelsis Deo. The choir were in splendid form, full of rhythmic energy, and with immaculate diction throughout. Sopranos produced a thrilling sound on many occasions, and there was full-blooded support from tenors and basses.

The middle andante of this three-movement work proved an oasis of calm amidst the excitement of the outer sections, but it was this passion and drama that overcame all else as the work raced to its thunderous conclusion, and received its due acclaim.