The IW Cantata Choir’s March offering is appropriately called A Spring Surprise, the title referring both to the programme’s content and to the venue.
Instead of its normal home of the Medina Theatre, the choir will perform attractive and exciting short works in the Minster Church of Sts Thomas, Newport.
The usual full orchestra is replaced, in Bob Chilcott’s Little Jazz Mass, by a jazz group of drums, bass and keyboard.
This work, popular with choirs on both sides of the Atlantic, brings together the diverse traditions of the Latin Missa Brevis and the jazz idiom.
The programme includes such contrasting works as Vaughan Williams’s simple and moving settings of George Herbert’s Five Spiritual Songs for baritone and chorus, the beautiful setting of The Lord’s Prayer from the African Sanctus by David Fanshawe, the old favourite Kum Ba Yah and some well known and loved opera choruses.
By IW County Press reporter. Friday, February 25, 2011
Concert Review:
Cantata deliver surprise
An audience of around 250 people were treated to the IW Cantata Choir’s March offering, appropriately entitled A Spring Surprise.
The title was referring both to the programme’s content and to the venue.
Instead of its normal home of The Medina Theatre, the choir performed some attractive and exciting short works in Newport Minster.
The usual full orchestra was replaced, in Bob Chilcott’s Little Jazz Mass, by a jazz group of drums, bass and keyboard.
The programme included such contrasting works as Vaughan Williams’ simple and moving settings of George Herbert’s Five Spiritual Songs for baritone and chorus, the very beautiful setting of The Lord’s Prayer from the African Sanctus by David Fanshawe, the old favourite Kum Ba Yah and some very well known and loved opera choruses.
Highlights included baritone soloist David Le Prevost, who performs all over the mainland, and the choir’s piano accompanist, Richard Wilkins.
By Martin Neville, IW County Press. Friday, March 18, 2011