Gabrielle Manoukian, Bernard Perkins & Stephen Page

St Leonard’s Parish Church, 12 May 2013

The music may have been familiar and popular, but this is not a problem if it is well sung and presented in a relaxed manor. Soprano Gabrielle Manoukian and Bass-Baritone Bernard Perkins opened with Franck’s Panis Angelicus and during the course of the afternoon came together again for Elgar’s Ave Verum and an arrangement of Schubert’s Ave Maria. The generous acoustic makes the voices bloom, which requires great clarity and tact with balance, both of which the singers were able to provide with ease.

In solo items Gabrielle particularly impressed with Vivaldi’s Nulla in Mondo which included delightful ornamentation in the second verse. It was interesting to hear Faure’s Pie Jesus with the fuller voice of a soprano rather than the thinner tones of a treble. Her final solo, I know that my Redeemer liveth proved moving and effective.

Bernard opened with The Holy City and a powerful reading of the Quoniam from Rossini’s Petit Messe Sollonelle. Sheep may safely graze is not often heard in its vocal arrangement and so was all the more welcome, while The Trumpet shall sound  brought flair to his final item.

We were required to join in with I vow to thee, my country and Jerusalem – not that we had any difficulty doing so – before the singers ended their concert with Ar hyd y nos and Rutter’s The Lord Bless you and Keep you – a gentle and warming conclusion before we made our way out for a cream tea.

Throughout, Stephen Page had accompanied with panache, from both organ and piano, providing a solo item in the form of an arrangement of Saint-Saens’ The Swan.

A most pleasing afternoon and well attended – more please? BH