St Albans Choral Society excelled themselves in their performance of Benjamin Britten’s St Nicolas on Saturday 10 November in a packed St Saviour’s Church, according to a review in the Herts Advertiser.
The review, by David Bruce, a St Albans-based composer, praises the ‘impeccable direction’ of conductor George Vass and Orchestra Nova’s first half performance of the Rakastava suite by Jean Sibelius. The choir then provided an ‘impressively intense’ climax to the Dona Nobis Pacem by Latvian composer Peteris Vasks, he says.
Tenor Bradley Smith was masterful in the role of Nicolas in Britten’s work, and St Albans High School Senior Chamber Choir were in fine voice too. The audience joined heartily in Britten’s arrangement of the hymn All people that on earth do dwell, prompting the reviewer to conclude: ‘It was a reminder that to fully appreciate music, the best approach is always to join in yourself.’
The Society’s next concert is A Christmas Celebration on Sunday 9 December at 7pm in Marlborough Road Methodist Church.
