Reviews of Recent Concerts
Puccini Messa
di Gloria and Rossini Stabat Mater: 7th June 2008
Follow
link here for review in The Guide, Surrey Mirror, 3rd July.
Handel's Messiah:
Saturday 2nd February 2008
“Making their first
concert appearance in Dorking, the 100 plus voices of the Croydon Philharmonic
Choir captured the glory and splendour of Handel’s sublime oratorio with a
faultless performance that delighted a large and discerning audience at
St Martin
’s.
Under David Gibson’s direction, the choir was well rehearsed with all the
nuances that provided meaning and expression to the chorales, so well
supported by musicians of The New London Sinfonia with Ian Le Grice at the
organ. The baroque sound was finely tuned by leader Martin Smith, the blend
between orchestra and organ was perfection.”
“In Part 3, the
virtuoso trumpet player Crispian Steele-Perkins took the No.1 trumpet position
to accompany Hakan Vramsmo for the aria The
Trumpet Shall Sound which justifiably became a highlight of the concert.
Crispian remained with the orchestra to support the finale, the incandescent
three-part chorale Worthy Is The Lamb
That Was Slain. The choir got it absolutely right; the applause was
lengthy, warm and appreciative.
David Gibson, as
conductor, the soloists, orchestra and choir brought a special quality of
performance to Dorking.”
Simon Ames in
Elgar & Lloyd
Webber: Saturday 17th November
“It does well to recall Remembrance Sunday and the Croydon
Philharmonic Choir with its 100 singers has the ability to stir a variety of
emotions.”
“Elgar the consummate professional
was inspired by three poems of Laurence Binyon, which became The Spirit of
England Opus 80. This choral work is now rarely heard and the choir with
its precision and clarity, aided and enhanced by the purity of soloist Erica
Oloff, made me wonder why.”
“The second half opened with Lloyd Webber’s Requiem, which
stands comparison with Verdi’s, described as opera for the concert hall, and
the gentler tones of Faure... The choir played its part and I was impressed
with their singing in the Offertorium.”
Peter Steptoe in The Guide
(Croydon Advertiser)
