The Telling (Clare Norburn, Ariane Prussner, Kaisa Pulkkinen)

St Clement’s Church, Hastings, 15 December 2019

At a time of year when we are very accustomed to the sound of blockbuster Christmas hymns and songs belted out by big choirs, bands and in recorded format almost everywhere you turn, it’s quite refreshing to hear some proper Medieval carols sung with imaginative authenticity.

The concert – and it’s a touring show – opens with the English Medieval Carol Lullay, my child sung by Norburn and Prussner moving round the church separately, sometimes passing each other, and both holding candles. St Clement’s church has a fine acoustic around which the pure, vibrato-free voices resound in a way which is mysterious in a quasi-monastic way. It’s quite a scene setter and you really do feel as if you’ve shifted back half a dozen centuries.

The rest of the programme consists of a further twenty carols, one or two of them familiar (Past Three A Clock, the Coventry Carol and Stille Nacht ) but most of them not. It’s fairly compelling to listen to although some of the material is a bit samey and there’s an awful lot of minor key.

There were some discoveries, though. El noi de la mare, a Catalan carol dating from the 16^th century is very pretty and resonant. Verbum Caro from Finland is uplifting.

The most striking thing about this performance is the musical rapport between Norburn (soprano) and Prussner (alto). Obviously these carols have been arranged and the two singers blend together perfectly with every harmony immaculately delivered – and they’re very exposed so there’s no room for error.

Accompaniment, where required, is played on harp or recorder by Pulkkinen who also contributes some instrumental numbers. Her playing, like the singing in this concert, sounds convincingly in period.

Some of the carols are also “accompanied” by on-screen animation created by Kate Anderson. I thought they added nothing, seemed trivial and that the performers should simply trust the music they’ve chosen to sing. My companion for the evening, however, liked them and said that the visual element helped to enliven the experience when the singing began to feel repetitive. Take your choice.

Susan Elkin

St Mary in the Castle, 14 December 2019

A full house, a buzz of excitement and some of the best Christmas music this season – all of which we have come to expect from Hastings Philharmonic but it is none the less very welcome when the time comes round. We have also grown used to the younger members bringing us string solos before the main event begins, and so it was this year with three young violinists, concluding with an impressive reading of the sublime second movement of Bach’s double violin concerto.

Then onto the main event, diving in at the deep end with God rest you merry, gentlemen for all concerned. The choir items were arranged in small groups and focussed this year on quieter more reflective pieces, opening with the ladies voices in Adam lay ybounden and a moving I wonder as I wander in John Rutter’s arrangement. After another carol for all, the Hastings Philharmonic Brass Quintett gave us a sparkling version of the Sussex Carol and a subtle arrangement of Silent Night.

The next two items brought a strong contrast between the beautifully reflective O magnum Mysterium by Morten Lauridsen and the vibrant Shepherd’s Pipe Carol from John Rutter.

After the interval and two more carols for all, the choir gave us a jolly Sir Christemas and a gentle Gabriel’s Message, before the Brass Quintett returned with a baroque sounding Es ist ein ros entsprungen and an unusual arrangement of The Holly and the Ivy.

Then came the moment without which it would not be a Hastings Philharmonic Christmas – Marcio da Silva singing O Holy Night.  It seems to get better and more moving every year, and long may it continue.

The guest children’s choir this year were from Christ Church Primary School who sang Jay Althouse’ In December and Jonathan Dove’s Snow.  Both of these were probably unfamiliar to the majority of the audience and a fine addition to the Christmas repertoire. They concluded with a rousing Jingle Bells before we all joined in Away in a Manger.

The final item from the choir reflected the note of intimacy which pervaded this year’s concert with A maiden most gentle before we all came together to sing O come all ye faithful.

The atmosphere in St Mary’s was certainly very warm and we understand that it will be even warmer soon as the money has been raised to replace the boilers!