Message from our Conductor
What a great evening back in December when we
presented Handel's Messiah to a full house - a highly enjoyable and memorable
concert with lively, expressive and meaningful singing both from the choir and
soloists, backed of course by the fine accompaniment from the North Wales
Philharmonia.
Of course, the Messiah always draws a good audience, so we mustn't slack off
with the publicity of our April concert - 20th century masterworks. From
the extrovert Chichester Psalms of Leonard Bernstein with its imaginative
accompaniment of organ, harp and percussion to the deeply moving and sincere
Requiem of Maurice Durufle (mostly based on plainsong themes), we are in for a
real treat of choral music. We have plenty of work to do, but having a
head start with the Bernstein last term in some of the rehearsals will give us
extra time to look ahead once again.
In December we will have a complete change of mood with David Fanshawe's African
Sanctus - a work I first knew at School where I did my best to sing with the
basses of the choral society. It is a big challenge, not least with
coordinating the live singing with the recordings of African music made by the
composer on his journeys in the 60's and 70's.
Then after that in March 2009, we have the opportunity to sing one of the great
pieces of all time, the St John Passion of Bach and this will be a very special
occasion as it will be the Jubilee concert for the society.
Do make a note for the date of St Asaph Choral Society's Baroque concert on 26
April in St Asaph Cathedral - on the menu will be Bach's Cantata 147 as well as
Vivaldi's Gloria.
In the meantime, spread the word about Colwyn Choral Society throughout the
district and beyond! See you very soon,
Graham Eccles
6 January 2008
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