‘Chorus’ passionate songs
make for a thrilling concert

Passionate and dramatic is an apt accolade for an excellent concert for Passiontide given by the Harlow Chorus at All Saints Church, Hockerill on Saturday.

Pergolesi’s rarely performed Miserere, admirably sung, set the scene for the evening, and was followed by Victoria’s O vos omnes, executed with sensitivity and good phrasing without being over dramatic.

Owing to the indisposition of Sarah Tenant-Flowers, Paul Ayres took the podium and his place on the organ bench was filled by Malcolm Hicks who gave stylish performances of solo pieces by Frescobaldi and Zipoli.

Having begun well, it was a pity that Paul Ayres’ tempo in Lotti’s eight part Crucifixus did not allow this well trained choir space to demonstrate the exquisite dissonances of the piece; consequently much pathos was lost.

As Allegri’s celebrated Miserere was written for a much smaller choir, this was always going to be a challenge for the Harlow Chorus. Even though the semi-chorus had excellent tonal blend and ensemble, Anne-Marie Cullum’s soprano soaring above, the main chorus was too robust and the plainsong far too loud and aggressive to be really successful.

Anne-Marie Cullum delighted in her accounts of two arias from Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater with a lovely open tone and ease of performance.

The choir is clearly most at home in the Romantic repertoire, which was amply demonstrated in Rossini’s rich and warm O salutaris hostia, an account which pleased by the choir’s good ensemble and exciting dynamic contrasts; qualities which came to the fore in the main work of the evening, Cherubini's Requiem. The Dies Irae was taut, precise and dramatic and this energy was well maintained through the fugue and exhilarating climax of the Offertorium in which the Harlow Chorus gave its best.

Its focussed, well blended sound combined with a disciplined technique, make for a thrilling musical performance, ranking the Harlow Chorus high among our regional choirs.

Kevin Goss

Text from Herts & Essex Observer March 10th 2005