An Evening of Mozart

27 June 2015

Our ‘Masses of Masses’ season reached its second stage with Mozart’s Great’ Mass in C Minor on Saturday 27th June. Not only was the audience treated to this wonderful work, but also to the sublime Clarinet Concerto in A with Harry Michalas as soloist. For this concert, Harry Michalas and the choir were joined by the National Festival Orchestra and conducted by our Musical Director, Lee Dunleavy.

Clarinet Soloist, Harry Michalas

NBC Musical Director, Lee Dunleavy

The evening began with the Clarinet Concerto and Harry Michalas performed with tenderness and flair throughout this wonderful piece. The audience responded enthusiastically to this excellent soloist - a product of Northamptonshire Music & Performing Arts.

The second half was given over to the ‘Great’ Mass in C Minor where the choir performed with their usual enthusiasm, opening with the solemn Kyrie, mastering the different the moods in between, and climaxing with the glorious Osanna. Our four soloists for the evening were Philippa Boyle (soprano), Esther Brazil (contralto), Christopher Trenholme (tenor), and Richard Latham (bass) who stood in at short notice for Peter Foggitt who had withdrawn for personal reasons. All four performed with skill and sensitivity – especially in the glorious duet for the two sopranos Domine Deus and their vigorous quartet which precedes that final i.

Soloists, Philppa Boyle, Esther Brazil, Christopher Trenholme, and Richard Latham

Our audience – again a goodly number – responded with enthusiasm to what was a glorious evening of music led, as always, by our redoubtable Conductor and Musical Director who led the choir and orchestra with his customary aplomb.

Here are some comments from members of our audience: