Review - The Cappella Singers (From Stroud News and Journal)

Review - The Cappella Singers

REVIEW

The Cappella Singers Minchinhampton Parish Church

In this concert at Minchinhampton in aid of the Cotswold Care Hospice, the Cappella Singers showed again the contribution of fine singing to enhancing all our lives.

Directed by Philip Colls, the renaissance theme of the first pieces, particularly those of Palestrina and Weelkes, gave an opportunity for the audience to enjoy the sound of voices blending gloriously together.

Then the gentle Caplet's O Salutaria Hostia sung by the women, led on to Grieg's Ave Maris Stella, and a full-voiced piece by Mendelssohn.

After the interval came pieces by Robert Lucas who in the 19th century imitated 16th century madrigals; the choir sang Great God of Love - a hymn to Cupid - with relish. A more folkish section included the lovely My Luve is Like a Red, Red Rose sung by the men, and the lively and infectious Blow Away the Morning Dew.

Then, as is their custom, the choir wound up with their popular Moonlight Serenade and other show numbers.

The good acoustic in Minchinhampton church gave a satisfactory resonance to the excellent part-singing for which the Cappella Singers are well-known.

The concert also gave an opportunity for young musicians from the Gloucester Academy of Music to play before an audience. Their musical skills shone through their nervousness, and the cello gave a lovely introduction to Anita Hewitt-Jones' serenade.