EASTBOURNE CHORAL’S MUSIC FOR ADVENT
- Review by Robin Gregory
St Saviour’s Church on December 1 was the venue for an ambitious Advent concert by Eastbourne Choral Society. Conductor John Hancorn brought out the best from choir, soloists and orchestra in music by Bach, Handel, Vaughan Williams and Britten, not to mention the audience when it was required to participate.
Sleepers, wake (Bach) brought together the choir (in fine form, though light on high male voices), soprano Daire Halpin, tenor Neil Jenkins, baritone Jonathan Gunthorpe and the Eastbourne Players ably led by Christopher Phipps, whose silky violin was a welcome bonus. Bach’s wide-ranging genius received a sensitive performance which provided the perfect start to what was to prove a most happy evening.
Daire Halpin’s two Messiah solos, especially I know that my redeemer liveth, were a world away from the syrupy reverence I knew in my youth. Hancorn set a perfect tempo, and the Players accompanied with light grace, as the soprano’s beautifully placed high register caressed her exquisitely-judged ornamentation of Handel’s line: a fine demonstration that power is not the only (or indeed, the main) attribute of good singing.
Indeed, the soloists throughout were exceptional. V-W’s Fantasia on Christmas Carols filled the resonant acoustics of the church with familiar tunes which received the composer’s special magic. The opening cello theme set the tone for a beautiful performance. The wordless choir backed the baritone’s fine singing, and burst into song as enthusiastically as Nick Houghton’s magisterial organ.
After wine and mince-pies it was Britten’s St Nicolas (Santa Claus to most of us). I have to say that this fascinating work received a magnificent performance at St Saviour’s. Neil Jenkins and treble Daniel Filmer sang enticingly from the pulpit, and Richard Korne gave the percussion a thrilling edge. This was grand music-making from start to finish.

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