St Mary in the Castle, Hastings, 20 December 2015
This was the 18th time Hastings Philharmonic Choir have led us in Christmas Carols for All and they do seem to improve year on year. If one overlooks the tiny blip at the start of Gaudete the balance and quality of tone was a delight throughout. Under their conductor Marcio da Silva they seem to be taking on greater challenges each year and meeting them with success.
In the first half, alongside familiar favourites, we heard John Rutter’s arrangement of The Infant King and Bob Chilcott’s rendition of Stille, stille, stille. When one puts these finely honed readings together with a hugely effective singing of Lauridsen’s O Magnum Mysterium we realise that Marcio da Silva is trying to create something very different. Rather than sticking to the familiar, with the significant input of instrumental accompaniment, we had a collection of pieces which were almost a capella, highlighting the sensitivity not only of the singers but of Frances Rayner’s continuously tactful piano support.
One of the highlights of a previous Christmas had been Marcio’s singing, at very short notice, of O Holy Night. He repeated it here, with the same wonderful outpouring of tone – and an enthusiasm that lifted the choir to their best singing of the evening.
Where we were all invited to join in, it was good to have Inspiritus Brass on tap, and they also provided two jolly interludes, one of which disarmingly included the Pizzicato Polka arranged for brass!
Gary Marriott provided the brief links between items and introduced his own choir Tune-Up Tuesday Singers who gave us Sweet Bells of Bethlehem.
The Choir are due to perform Brahms’ Requiem in May. Before this evening I had thought that was something of a large undertaking for them, but on the strength of what we heard, and the quality of the ensemble, I am looking forward to it already.
Details of this and membership at www.hastingsphilchoir.org.uk