REVIEW: Fairford & District Choral Society

Review by Ruth Foxman

FAIRFORD & District Choral Society gave their spring concert on Saturday, April 21 in the historic setting of St Mary’s Church in Fairford.

The first half of the concert was a varied programme of vocal, piano and organ music all thoughtfully introduced by the soloists.

Emily Griffiths (soprano) delighted the capacity audience with her incredibly expressive voice and face, clearly portraying the different characters of four Strauss songs she'd selected. Alison Howell gave a faultless performance on the church organ demonstrating a full width of colours.

Brahms’ German Requiem under the direction of Marysia Gorska-Saj included soloists Emily Griffiths, and the talented baritone William Stevens, accompanied on the piano by Alison Howell and Jo Scullin. The piano duet accompaniment was written by Brahms himself.

From the outset the choir performed as a single unit. No voices stood out, no entries were missed, and I was particularly impressed how calm and professional they were in sections where the piano accompaniment went adrift.

Marysia is a very physically dynamic conductor, using her whole body to corral her troops. The choir were able to bring a slightly altered tone and attitude to each movement under her direction.

The dynamic contrast the choir achieved in the second movement was stunning. The first entry was clear, with good diction, and beautifully sung, and the increase in volume with no less of vocal quality at the refrain was striking.

The unscheduled accompaniment of lightning, thunder and rain only enhanced the drama.

Both soloists had wonderfully clear voices, and communicated well with the audience.

Brahms is not gentle with the choral parts, with basses and soloists alike pushed to their upper reaches.

This was only slightly evident in the very last movement where the sopranos ceased to soar, and the effort to reach their top notes was clear, but it was a thoughtful, sensitive and thoroughly enjoyable concert.

I'm very pleased I was able to attend.