Worcester Festival Choral Society

Thunderous herald to anniversary celebrations

This concert was a glorious fusion of spiritual imaginations spanning half a century and featuring two of the greatest composers of the modern age. It was something else, too – the marriage of the boundless enthusiasm of the county’s choral singers and the skills of some of Britain’s top musicians.

Conducted by the irrepressible Adrian Lucas, the night began with Four Last Songs by Richard Strauss… Soprano Naomi Harvey quickly asserted her authority in these pieces…a brief interlude was summarily brought to an end by a veritable tidal wave of sound announced by the opening chords of Ralph Vaughan Williams’s A Sea Symphony. And it was here that the members of the Choral Society proved their worth as they found themselves matched with the Chameleon Arts Orchestra, an ensemble of freelancers who have played with the best in the land. Crashing timpani and cymbals carry this unstoppable surge, the woodwind and strings shrieking and moaning like the myriad lost souls of the sea. And all the time, Miss Harvey appears as some latter-day Britannia, her eloquent soprano matched by the rich baritone of fellow soloist Paul Carey Jones.

Conductor Adrian Lucas never fails to provide Worcester with a packed Christmas stocking of music. Even he would probably agree that all expectations had been exceeded with this concert, for it truly sparkled and glittered………….Finzi’s In Terra Pax was the highlight of the night by a clear margin. Worcester Festival Choral Society was on particular good form, delivering an exquisitely beautiful O Little Town of Bethlehem, a piece that was endowed with an almost ethereal quality.

Just a note to let you know how much we enjoyed the Messiah on Saturday night. It was a first rate performance by the Choral Society, Queen’s Park Sinfonia and Soloists…………it was a memorable occasion befitting of Handel’s 250^th anniversary. David and Margaret Hubball

The evening also had all the energy that we expect not only from Adrian Lucas but also the choruses and orchestras he conducts. The well known Hallelujah chorus had such vitality that the audience’s standing up seemed to express reverence for the performance as much as for Handel himself. Lucas Ball, Worcester News

The performance of Handel’s Messiah conducted by Adrian Lucas with Worcester Festival Choral Society, Queen’s Park Sinfonia and soloists fulfilled all the expectations we now anticipate from them……..“Worthy is the Lamb that was Slain” followed by the “Amen” had the choir giving superb performances with all the colour and rhythm that is predominant in the composer’s work. For a packed cathedral, on the 250th anniversary of Handel’s death, this was without doubt an evening to remember. Margaret Campbell

Margaret Campbell writes: The concert given by WFCS, soloists and the Westminster Chamber Orchestra conducted by Adrian Lucas gave an unforgettable performance of these two works. Although differing in style, both works were tackled admirably by all concerned. The performance of the Scarlatti was authentic and colourful throughout, whilst the Duruflé brought a different mood in which all performers brought out the tragic underlying influences. The choir and conductor are to be congratulated on being able to achieve this and a very special mention must be made of the boy trebles who gave an outstanding performance of the Pie Jesu.