In full frontal fecundity the BSO, Chorus and Youth Chorus proclaimed the utopian vision of the Land of Cockaigne: Carl Orff’s adaptation of a 13th century manuscript into his magnum opus; Carmina Burana.
With penetrating insight conductor Owain Arwel Hughes pulled off an astonishing performance with sterling contributions from three soloists.
Baritone Jacques Imbrailo’s lines from this libidinous libretto included an inebriately malevolent Ergo sum abbas and a mellifluous Omnia sol temperat. The bizarre pathos of The Roast Swan was superbly voiced in high tenor by Mark Milhofer and in soprano Ailish Tynan we heard radiant innocence in a Girl Stood, a coyly sung In trutina and perhaps her forte in Dulcissime.
The BSYC showed their proclivity for vocal finesse; their Musical Director Elizabeth Naylor taking a bow alongside the BSC’s Chorus Master Gavin Carr whose singers were impeccable in the biting rhythms of this hymn to life, love, lust and libation.
There is perhaps a tenuous link with Elgar’s Cockaigne; a Concert Overture impression of bustling London life at the turn of the 20th century, the cockney inhabitants envying the luxuries available is conjectural, the performance though was stunning. And the love interest in Berlioz’ Overture Roman Carnival was beautifully presented from the cor anglais of Rebecca Kozam with plenty of dash from the BSO.
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