Saturday 14 December 2024
Exeter Cathedral

A packed cathedral enjoyed a wonderful evening of seasonal music and readings performed by Exeter Festival Chorus

with their guest artists, soprano Amy Carson and Devon Youth Jazz Orchestra.

Amy Carson opened the concert with a beautiful, warm solo to start Once in Royal David’s City. This was the first of several carols in which the audience also participated, accompanied by Peter Adcock, who entertained with a few cheeky flourishes on the organ! Carols and readings (delivered by members of the choir) were interspersed with choral works by composers from the Renaissance to the 20th Century.

Under the direction of Andrea Brown the choir sang with conviction, commitment, and clear diction. Incisive, rhythmic singing characterised Handel’s For unto us a Child is Born and William Mathias’ Sir Christèmas, while there was a lovely lyricism to many of the quieter moments, as in the soprano and alto second verse of Elizabeth Poston’s Jesus Christ the Apple Tree and Peter Warlock’s Bethlehem Down. At all times phrases were given plenty of time to breathe, and dynamics and articulation carefully controlled.

For several of the pieces the choir was joined by soloist Amy Carson in a sensitive collaboration. A particular highlight was Kenneth Leighton’s Coventry Carol. Amy Carson’s clear soprano floated serenely over the rocking harmonies and her control of long notes, carefully fading, was especially beautiful. The choir delivered an effective contrast with the vigour of the central section, marked by some potent accents.

Another highlight was the arrangement of Silent Night by the contemporary musician Darius Battiwalla. It is a striking piece, as the three verses are given quite different treatment. In the first we heard a beautifully buoyant accompaniment, with the harmonies bouncing off pedal notes, underpinning the tranquil soprano melody. The tenors shone in the second verse, and the whole choir indulged in the luscious, enriched harmonies of the third verse.

In the second half of the concert the Devon Youth Jazz Orchestra took to the stage, opening their programme with a vibrant and dynamic Joy to the World. I especially enjoyed the blazing trumpets! There followed a further five pieces, in which there were opportunities for soloists to shine; Maillie’s fluid and controlled flugelhorn solo in O Holy Night captured the lyricism of this piece, and Ved gave us some truly virtuosic saxophone solos, most notably in Sleigh Ride. Two members of the group also stepped forward for some vocal solos; Georgia gave a confident and characterful performance in The Man with the Bag, whilst Henry’s warm-toned Jingle Bells (in an arrangement by Glenn Miller) was delightfully engaging.

Graham Hutton conducted with energy, precision, and warmth, controlling dynamics to enable different elements to come to the fore in the musical texture. The young musicians all played with rhythmic and melodic accuracy, and enthusiasm. Their enjoyment wasn’t dependent upon having a solo, or even the tune - the trombones were clearly relishing their bass notes in Sleigh Ride!

Choir and Jazz Orchestra came together for the last two pieces, with the two conductors and all the musicians in collaboration – a wonderful demonstration of music’s capacity to bring people together. The audience was invited to join in the last piece, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, bringing the evening to a close in a joyous spirit of communal festivity.

Annabel Rooney