A Glorious Messiah Winchester Cathedral Thursday 26 November 2015
Music School Gate
Two other highlights were Thomas Sharrock’ s self-assured playing of Burgmuller’ s L’ Orage and Angus Benton’ s Easy Winners by Joplin on the cello.
Each Quirister had the opportunity to play at least one of their instruments and the morning was rounded off in energetic style with a fast-pace duet by Max Bassett and Christopher Roberts-Pastor on the piano – Norton’ s Train Blues.
Many congratulations to all the boys and our heartfelt thanks to Russell du Plessis for organising and to Chris Burton and the visiting Music Teachers who help make it all possible.
Lucy Menard, Q Parent( yr 5)
The first Sunday of Advent was fast upon us. And from the bustle of the Christmas market in the Close and the joyful shouts rising from the sparkling ice rink, to the twinkling decorative lights after dark, we experience many daily reminders that we are entering a very special time of the year. The recent performance of Handel’ s Messiah in Winchester Cathedral really was a celebration truly fit to grace the time of year. In the words of David Thomas, taking up the baton of the Winchester Music Club Choir & Orchestra with the Winchester College Quiristers and Glee Club for the first time, this was a performance of,‘ one of the great works of the choral repertoire in one of the great buildings of the world’. And the event certainly lived up to that billing and the season of wonder.
Completely sold out, there was not a seat left in a packed Cathedral, which was treated to a version of the Messiah based closely on the première of 1742, with David Thomas keen to avoid presenting an‘ over familiar’ performance, whilst retaining the‘ spiritual and musical sense’ of the piece. The result: something at the same time both new and familiar, yet thrilling throughout.
The soloists were all of outstanding quality, but particular praise must go to countertenor, Tim Mead who won the audience with the clarity and warmth of his singing. A special rarity was the seldom performed duet he performed with soprano, Zoë Brookshaw of How Beautiful Are the Feet – a stunning blend of voices.
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