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Concert Listings Select
a decade to view its concert listings
The Stroud
Choral Society's performance of the J.S.Bach Christmas
Oratorio on Saturday 17th December in the Subscription
Rooms, Stroud, under Ben Nicholas was a tribute to music
and a triumph of music making.
Saturday night saw Stroud Choral Society present Haydns Creation at Stroud Subscription Rooms. This was only the societys second concert under the baton of their new conductor, Ben Nicholas, but in my opinion was the slickest and most enjoyable for several years. Bens dynamic approach has brought a new energy to the choir, much to the delight of the near capacity audience. The eighty strong choir were accompanied by the Regency Sinfonia, conspicuous by their excellence. This was musicianship of high quality and I sincerely hope they will be supporting the Choral Society in the future. Haydns Creation is a light and accessible piece. It was written in 1798 and based on the first chapter of Genesis narrated by 4 archangels. Alice Carol, standing in at short notice as soprano gave a confident and assured performance.James Birchall, bass, sang wonderfully and with exceptional range. Tom Raskin, tenor, sang with clarity and precision. The Chorus put in a strong and tonally excellent performance. The quiet start culminated with a spine tingling crescendo as God created light. The expanded male voice section, often a weakness in the past due to lack of numbers at last balanced the sopranos and altos perfectly. I have to say the concert was over all too soon. The audience could easily have forgotten this was small town Stroud. It was a performance fit for any large city concert hall and the Society should be heartily congratulated. John Salter |
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