A large and appreciative audience was treated to the glories
of music by Mozart and Puccini last Saturday (16th April) in the
Minster Church, Axminster. The Axminster and District Choral Society produced
fine and memorable performances of Mozart’s
Vespers and Puccini’s Messa di Goria with
wonderful professional support from a team of young soloists and the experience
of members of the East Devon Sinfonia.
Under their Music Director, Charles Slade, the Society
produced a high quality of choral singing and rightly earned sustained and
enthusiastic applause at the end of each work. After just twelve months as
Music Director, Charles Slade has demonstrated his skill in bringing out the
best of all of the musicians, amateur and professional, blending them into a
cohesive unit which responded well to his direction and which has clearly
worked hard in the rehearsals leading up to the concert. Comments made by
regular supporters of the Society’s concerts emphasise the significant progress
made in such a short time.
Students from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama should
have provided all four soloists. However, illness prevented baritone Thomas
Schütz from taking part. His place was taken at 48 hours’ notice by Francis Brett who joined
Ellie Laugharne (soprano), Sioned Gwen Davies (mezzo) and Simon Gfeller in contributing
some fine solo and ensemble singing. One particular highlight was Simon
Gfeller’s passionate performance of the ‘Gratias agimus’ in the Puccini.
The case for engaging a fully-professional orchestra for
such an occasion was strongly made. The presence of two former members of the
Dartington String Quartet, leader Malcolm Latchem and Keith Lovell, surrounded
by some of the finest orchestral players in the south-west, provided a rich,
warm and sensitive orchestral texture which followed Charles Slade’s assured
and inconspicuous conducting style with ease and precision.
A most enjoyable
evening.
William Traynor
Plans for the next two seasons are well-advanced. The concert programme 18th December 2011 includes Haydn's 'Missa Cellensis', Bob Chilcott's 'Canticles of Light' plus a selection of Christmas favourites.
April 2012 will see the Society performing Haydn's 'The Creation', followed in Dcember 2012 by a complete performance of Bach's 'Christmas Oratorio'.
