Weymouth Choral Society Vivaldi Gloria Concert

Every generation contributed to a quite outstanding concert by the Weymouth Choral Society at St John’s Church, Weymouth on Saturday (29th Oct), with a truly impressive range of young musicians in support.

The concert programme embraced Baroque, contemporary choral and instrumental works. It was skilfully designed by musical director Helen Brind to showcase both her fine choir and choristers and soloists from the Dorchester Area Schools Partnership, superbly supported by the Aliquando String Ensemble, which shone throughout.

Many of the pieces were kept short which heightened their power and provided an opportunity for several young soloists to show their ability. The overall standard was so high that it seems almost unfair to single out individual performances. Yet it would be equally unfair not to mention Hannah McFarlane’s mature and deeply rich rendering of Kenneth Leighton’s Elegy for Cello. It was one of the evening’s many highlights which included stylish solos by alto, Emily James and a delicate and nuanced rendering by oboist Helen Simpson of movements from Cimaroso’s Concerto for Oboe and Strings.

Brind blended the increasingly confident sound of her own choir with the fresh voices of the youthful choristers, as well as those of soloists Kate Bidwell, Rebecca Stell, Cara Lee and Chloe and Jodie Tripp. The concert was underpinned by accomplished performances from the members of the Aliquando String Ensemble. Trumpeter Winston Leese set the tone with a flawless Handel overture. The concert’s heart was Vivaldi’s Gloria but what was undoubtedly one of the most interesting programmes of the choir’s year ranged from Vivaldi to Andrew Lloyd Webber and Enrico Moricone and three beautiful pieces by Karl Jenkins, including the Benedictus from his powerful work, The Armed Man.

St John’s Church provided the perfect setting for an uplifting and moving evening which showed very clearly that the musical tradition in Dorset is alive and healthy indeed.