Memories of Brahms
Saturday 25th June, 2016
Photo courtesy of Philip Buttall
Music critic Philip Buttall praises Three Spires Singers’ Brahms Requiem and 2nd Symphony (June 25th 2016 in Truro Cathedral).
Writing on the Arts Culture website that covers the arts in South West England, he said:
"...This quite sublime performance of Ein Deutsches Requiem by Three Spires Singers and Orchestra very much brought a new sense of meaning to the work, and especially to those who felt they were already familiar with it.
...Conductor Christopher Gray's
approach sought to address the complex nature of the work's duality - on the one
hand sacred and classically-restrained, yet non-liturgical and full of romantic
outpouring at the same time.
...To achieve such a
wholly-convincing reading on the night, he adopted the simplest of means - by
faithfully observing the composer's intentions and communicating these with such
clarity and simple sincerity to the performers, and to which they wholeheartedly
responded. Here were no unnecessary gestures or extrovert flamboyance per se,
yet the performance still retained the stamp of
individuality.
...The well-drilled choir was in
superb voice, particularly the strong and accurate lead from sopranos, with
soloists Naomi Johnston and Christopher Dollins providing matching
support
...The outstanding orchestra,
under the assured leadership of Pauline Lowbury, also made a telling, yet never
overpowering contribution here."
In a
long review for the website Scene and Heard, which covers the
international classical music scene,
Philip Buttall expanded on his positive reactions to the concert, which included
Brahms' 2nd Symphony:
" Symphony No 2 in D major:
...Christopher Gray is clearly a graduate of the
restrained-school of conducting, where gesture is quite minimal, but
establishing a taut ensemble from the very outset, which was so refreshing to
watch as he teased out lines and inner-parts. The playing was vibrant and
stamped with the mark of an individual interpretation.
...When asked about his approach to the task of
conducting two large works by Brahms, he said that he had been studying the
musical scores for months in preparation – and this certainly showed on the
night - the sound they produced and the way they played just seemed all rather
special.
Ein Deutsches Requiem:
...Encouraged by the fine acoustic, the choir
produced some lovely dynamic contrasts, from the wonderful calm of How lovely
are thy dwellings to impressively powerful fortissimos elsewhere, with no
apparent loss of ensemble or clarity of line in any of the fugal or contrapuntal
sections.
...Three Spires Singers and Orchestra is fortunate
in that they have an extremely active and supportive Patron in BBC Radio 3
presenter Petroc Trelawny, who, despite a busy broadcasting schedule in London,
was still there in the front row on the night, applauding with unbridled
enthusiasm and genuine appreciation, and patently so proud to be associated with
such an outstanding group of performers. "
To
see the full reviews, click on the links below:
Seen and Heard
International - http://seenandheard-international.com/2016/06/three-spires-singers-and-orchestra-bring-new-sense-of-meaning-to-brahms-requiem/
Arts Culture - http://artsculture.newsandmediarepublic.org/classical/three-spires-singers-truro-cathedral/
