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LEICESTER MERCURY 24/10/06
JENKINS AND HIS REQUIEM WAS A PLEASURE
There's something especially rewarding about hearing a composer conducting his own work. So it was a pleasure to hear Karl Jenkins conduct the Leicester Philharmonic Choir in a performance of his acclaimed work, Requiem.
Marylebone Camerata was the accompanying orchestra and in the first half, a varied programme, they were conducted by the choir's musical director, Richard Dacey.
The amazing Catrin Finch was the harp soloist in Salzedo's Fantasy, a piece woven around the song Granada, and she then performed the fourth movement of Jenkins's suite Tros y Garreg, displaying her great technique and tone.
The orchestra gave us Holst's St Paul's Suite, with its English and Scottish folk tunes intertwined, so refreshing.
As the final item in this first half, the choir joined the orchestra in Haydn's Te Deum in C, displaying nice tone and fluency in the runs.
Then came the Requiem with Jenkins conducting. Apart from the Latin text with its strong music - especially in the Dies Irae, with its thunderous repetition - there are calming interludes.
These were performed by the trio Juice, along with Clive Bell playing a Japanese wind instrument, the shakuhachi, and various ethnic percussion instruments.
Nicole Tibbels was the superb soprano soloist and she was joined in the Pie Jesu by Leicester boy treble Reuben Oreffo, who sang delightfully.
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