Grange Choral Society, Christchurch Priory
IN a fitting farewell to their Musical Director Christopher Dawe the Grange Chorus and Orchestra excelled even their finest artistic standards with Bach's Mass in B minor.
This pinnacle of sacred music, presented here with a team of five outstanding soloists, opened the choral floodgates with a magnificent Kyrie eleison set off by the subsequent duet for soprano Nicki Kennedy and mezzo-soprano Stephanie Lewis in complimentary tonal qualities.
A fine solo from tenor Hugh Hetherington in the Benedictus and from bass-baritone Phillip Tebb in Et in Spiritum Sanctum set further high points. The duet Et in unum Dominus by Kennedy and counter-tenor Tim Mead made one of the highlights topped by Mead's Agnus Dei in an immensely poignant and potent performance.
Maybe Dawe could have drawn even greater contrast from the chorus' Et incarnatus and the soloist's Crucifixus with marginally lower and smoother dynamics but the great joy of rhythmic vitality evidenced a choir thoroughly prepared for the rigorous demands of Bach's genius.
Choral singing throughout was thrillingly disciplined; glowing with inspired enthusiasm and supported with orchestral brilliance under the leadership of Brian Howells. The choruses final round of cheers for Christopher Dawe reinforced their genuine admiration.
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