Carmina Burana
2006 saw a move from the traditional biennial Christmas Concert to an evening of 20th Century Choral Music and German Composer, Max Bruch’s Opus 47. ‘Adagio on Hebrew Melodies for Cello and Orchestra’, better known as ‘Kol Nidrei’. For me, it was a chance to see one of Birkenhead School Choral Society’s concerts from an audience perspective.
As I took my seat in the Grand Circle, the first thing to look for was the unfortunate treble who had forgotten his music, and of course there always is one, having therefore to spend the evening looking over his not so helpful ‘friend’s’ shoulder for the entirety of the Concert.
The
Concert began with ‘In Terra Pax’, written by Gerald Finzi two years before
finally losing his fight against Hodgkin’s Disease. Based on the poem “Noel:
Christmas Eve 1913” by Robert Bridges, it was a fitting choice to see in the
season of advent. Primarily sung by baritone soloist David Philip, the piece
built up to a well-performed chorus, sung with all the grandeur the composer
intended.
An impressive performance followed with Gethyn Jones playing the cello for Max Bruch’s ‘Kol Nidrei’ on this the 125th anniversary of its composition and first performed in Liverpool under the leadership of Bruch himself, the then director of the Philharmonic Society.
Gerald Finzi’s ‘Dies Natalis’ saw out the first half in style. One of, if not the best-known of Finzi’s works, once again set to the words of a poet; this time, Thomas Traherne. It was performed with overwhelming enthusiasm on all parts.
Following twenty minutes of refreshments, the audience returned to the magnificent ‘Carmina Burana’ by composer Carl Orff (now more commonly associated with ITV’s ‘X-Factor’). Here, following on from what was, in effect, a light first half for the choir, the performance left many of the audience awe-struck and yearning for more. The trademark ‘Fortuna Imperarix Mundi’ never fails to impress even the most experienced of concertgoers. If that wasn’t enough, Mr Ellis’ enthusiastic conducting nearly saw him off the rostrum on many occasions. Other highlights to the work included the unorthodox shouted ending to the chorus preceding ‘In Taberna’, and, towards the end, the trebles and ladies hitting the ‘Oh, Oh, Oh’ lines with the desired ‘drunken’ effect: purely acting?!
In conclusion, it was a thoroughly enjoyable evening of musical entertainment, enabling members of Birkenhead School Choral Society once again to show off their vocal talents in supreme style! Thanks and congratulations also to the Chapel Choir, the Prep Choir, and the High School Choir, all so wonderfully accompanied by the Liverpool Sinfonia. A huge thanks goes out to Mr Ellis for being the mastermind behind the enterprise, and for all those who helped bring the evening together into the ‘smooth’ performance that it was.
George Wright (OB 2006)
