Chepstow Choral Society was delighted at the enthusiastic and warm reception from a highly appreciative audience to their spring concert at St Mary's Priory Church, Chepstow, which was held the weekend before Easter.
The programme for this concert had been deliberately chosen as one which would be appropriate for the season, with a mixture of music which reflected the contrasting elements of the pre-Easter week, and it was very evident that this had been recognised and endorsed by the audience. Two of the choral items (Pergolesi's Stabat Mater and the Missa Brevis in F by Haydn) were new to the Society's repertoire, whilst the third item for the choir was the well known and loved Gloria by Vivaldi. All three works contained highly contrasting choruses as well as some considerable work for soloists, and the Society was delighted to welcome two new young soloists to Chepstow. Alexandra Carter (soprano) and Caryl Hughes (mezzo-soprano) sang beautifully, not only in their individual solo items, but also when singing as a duet, and it was lovely to have two such highly talented young musicians who work together, and who obviously have very promising futures ahead of them. Both soloists had travelled from London, where they are working and studying with highly respected national and international figures in the world of opera and oratorio and with masterclasses and performances, and once again Chepstow Choral Society was able to reinforce its commitment to support young professional musicians. Both soloists demonstrated a wide degree of musical expertise in their execution of some very difficult baroque solos and the ornamentation which is very much a part of 17th and early 18th century music. The orchestra for the evening was very much a chamber orchestra of strings, with chamber organ continuo and oboe and trumpet for the Gloria, and again provided a blend of young and experienced professionalism. The choir sang with full confidence and overcame the totally unavoidable absence of some male members due to a variety of reasons which included illness, ferry cancellations, and emergency work commitments.
The programme was completed with the Adagio for Strings and Organ by Albinoni. This item opened the concert, and set the tone for the evening with some highly sensitive and excellent playing by the instrumental ensemble, with Rolette de Montet Guerin (leader, violin) and Marjorie Duerden (chamber organ).
The concert was directed and conducted by Chepstow Choral Society's musical director Graham Bull. The Society would like to thank all its supporters for their enthusiasm, and for their contribution to what was a lovely evening of high quality music in Chepstow. As the programme commented, without support small choral societies do not survive, and towns and areas like Chepstow would then lose a valued part of their community. It was heartening to see that Chepstow does not wish to "lose" the music which its choral society brings to the town, and it is very encouraging that the feedback for a concert such as this recent one, which contained some specialised music, is extremely positive and encouraging.
The Society now looks forward to its performance of Mendelssohn's great choral masterpiece Elijah, on Saturday July 14th at St Mary's Church, Chepstow. This is a huge undertaking, and Chepstow Choral Society is hoping for a maximum audience - this is a work which most choral societies are fortunate to be able to attempt once! The solo quartet for the evening will see a return to Chepstow of Edward Price (bass), Sian Menna (alto), Christopher Bowen (tenor) with newcomer Lynsey Docherty (soprano). All are highly acclaimed young international singers, and the evening promises to be memorable and certainly a musical highlight in Chepstow this year, and tickets will also soon be available through the choir and Chepstow Bookshop. Please contact Marjorie Duerden (tel. 623310) about the musical schedule, and secretary Frances Gray (622465) about patronage etc. Chepstow Choral Society welcomes new members, and is steadily building up the number of patrons. Further information about the society can be obtained through its website (www.chepstowchoralsociety.org.uk) .
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