After four years without a major orchestral concert to prepare for, the Singers gave a sparkling and joyous account of A Time to Dance, an hour-long cantata by Alec Roth featuring the Chelmsford Singers, Chelmsford Cathedral Choir, four outstanding soloists and the Chelmsford Sinfonietta. Coupled with choral works by Herbert Howells (A Hymn for St Cecilia) and J S Bach (the rarely-heard Missa in F) the most recent item on the programme was a huge hit with audience and performers alike, all the more wonderfully for being an unfamiliar to nearly everyone involved – the presence of the original bass soloist added a connection to the work’s first performance in 2012. A triumphant evening that opened with a brass fanfare by Benjamin Britten, and passed through choral and vocal movements with stunning instrumental solos, ended with all of the singers downing their scores to sing and dance in a celebration of the return of music-making after the strictures of the pandemic.
Christmas is coming . . .
The next concert that the Singers will host is a programme of Christmas music, celebrating Ralph Vaughan Williams in his 150th anniversary year, featuring his Fantasia on Christmas Carols, along with choral classics and audience favourites with something for everyone. Do join us for that if you can!
