Future Concerts:

Saturday 21st June 2008, 7.30pm
Moot Hall, Colchester Town Hall
A celebration of two 50th anniversaries - Ralph Vaughn-Williams and The Beatles...

Previous Concerts:

Beethoven - Missa Solemnis
Saturday November 25th 2006 7.30pm

Review by Jackie Wallace for the Essex County Standard.

This immensely powerful mass setting by Beethoven, with its full-on emotional intensity and complex scoring, is not a task for the faint-hearted, and Colchester Choral Society and Sinfonia together with four first rate soloists, set their sights high to achieve a totally convincing performance under the inspiring direction of lan
Ray.

From the confidently-stated opening bars of the Kyrie, an impressive level of energy and enthusiasm was maintained throughout with sustained pleas from the chorus overlaid by urgent solo interjections for
mercy. The magnificent pace and momentum of the Gloria produced a whirlwind of excited praise, interspersed with pockets of lyrical relief from the soloists, and culminating in a well-controlled fugue with
nicely punched-out entries from the choir.

An equally overwhelming degree of impassioned sincerity infused the Credo. A notably fervent Et Incamatus,
and a most poignant Crucifixus featured wonderful contributions from the soloists and the choir dealt admirably with the fiendishly difficult fugal setting of Et Vitam Venturi.

These unrelenting affirmations of faith then yielded to a moving Sanctus and a truly sublime Benedictus.

The soloists. Sally Silver, Elizabeth Sikora, Justin Lavender and Keel Watson worked beautifully as a finely
blended and balanced quartet to create a truly reverential atmosphere, which was enhanced by an exquisitely expressive violin solo from Jessie Ridley, and an extremely sensitive orchestral accompaniment.

Keel Watson's sombre supplication for mercy opened the Agnus Dei and was taken up by his fellow soloists. The choir then successfully transformed the mood to one of joyful expectation, and brought the work to a hopeful conclusion.

The long-lasting applause from a capacity audience said it all - a stirring performance.

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