REVIEW: Bath Choral Society in Bath Abbey  (Bath Chronicle)

Haydn’s Te Deum and Theresienmesse
Purcell’s 1694 Birthday Ode to Queen Mary, Come Ye Sons of Art

ATTENDING a concert in the abbey is always a mixed pleasure, The setting is perfect for religious music but the acoustics are difficult; solo voices which should soar to the fan vaulting don’t reach the back of the church, nevertheless, the abbey was filled for Saturday’s concert, a fundraiser to restore a Haydn manuscript,  with a highly appreciative audience. Joseph Haydn wrote complex and subtle music for Prince Esterhazy’s small orchestra and choir; whether he would have liked his finely wrought scores sung by the 122 voices of Bath Choral Society is debatable; what would have been wonderful for the Messiah was somewhat overpowering for this concert of small scale chamber music as the nuances and delicacies were frequently lost in the sheer volume of noise.

The choir was at its best in the Agnus Dei of the Theresienmesse and the second part of the Credo, which was delivered expressively. The splendid London Gala Orchestra was conducted by Mathew Bale and the soloists, Charlotte Ellett, Louise Mott, Andrew Mackenzie-Wicks and Owen Glihooly who will represent Ireland in Cardiff Singer of the World, gave enjoyable performances, despite the difficulties of being heard.

Bath Choral Society will be at Prior Park chapel on July22 for a progranmme of sacred masterpieces; take a rug and a picnic and enjoy

Diana White                                            see image of clipping