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LEICESTER
MERCURY
23/10/08
MASS OF THE CHILDREN
DE MONTFORT HALL, LEICESTER
SAT 18 OCT 2008
REVIEW BY PETER COLLETT
Vitality and rhythm along with peace and tranquillity
THE first half,
conducted by chorus master Richard Dacey, began with a gentle lilt - four
English Dances by Malcolm Arnold played by the Marylebone Camerata.
John Rutter's To
Everything There is a Season, beautifully conveyed a sense of peace and
tranquillity. Word clarity was beautiful.
A deep silence
reigned as loana Petcu-Colan performed the gently soaring violin solo from
Vaughan Williams The Lark Ascending.
Dvorak's Te Deum
had a vitality and rhythm from the chorus, while soloists Joanne Lunn (soprano)
and Jeremy Huw Williams (bass) added emotion. Balance between choir and
orchestra improved towards the end of the piece. A slightly less English choral
sound might have been appropriate.
Mass of the
Children was conducted by the composer, John Rutter. The Agnus Dei, in
particular, conveyed a real sense of expectation, concluding with an ethereal
setting of William Blake's poem Little Lamb Who Made Thee for children's voices.
Stunning and well
balanced. |