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Over 200 Singers for Mahler’s Resurrection

11 March 2018

Our 2018 Season - “Wond’rous Machine” - began in spectacular fashion last night with a performance of Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 “Resurrection” with nearly 250 singers working alongside the virtuoso organist David Briggs, who transcribed the huge orchestral score for solo organ himself.

Our Mahler Banner outside St Matthew's
 
Over 200 Singers in Rehearsal

The Northampton Bach Choir were delighted to be joined by the Daventry Choral Society, the Wellingborough Singers, the New Leicester Youth Chorus, the Chapel Choir of the Malcolm Arnold Academy, and soloists Alison Roddy and Jeanette Ager, and of course David Briggs at the console of the four-manual Walker Organ of St Matthew’s Church.

A Packed Church and a Massive Sound
 
David Briggs at Work

From the very quietest sounds on the organ right up to the astonishing force of full organ, and the choir at the very highest point in their voices, singing at full-throttle, this was a concert which was truly remarkable – members of the audience were visibly moved by the performance, and the huge applause for all our performers was breath-taking. Particular tribute must be paid to David Briggs who sustained the performance for 85 solid minutes, conjuring remarkable sounds from the organ, and taking us on Mahler’s journey.

Rank on Rank the Hosts of Heaven Sing Mahler
 
David and our Soloists

Over our four major concerts in 2018 we are exploring repertoire for chorus and organ, capitalising on the remarkable Cathedral-sized organ that is available to us at St Matthew’s Church; the three remaining concerts focus on (1) the Centenary of Leonard Bernstein’s birth, alongside works by Britten, Finzi, Kelly, and Tippett commissioned by Walter Hussey, (2) the wealth of “Choral Fireworks” written over the last century by Parisian organist-composers, and (3) the Centenary of both the death of Sir C. Hubert H. Parry, and the Armistice at the end of the First World War, in a programme of Parry’s outstanding works for both Ceremonial and Commemorative occasions - Blest Pair of Sirens, Dear Lord and Father of Mankind, I was glad, Jerusalem, and of course, his Songs of Farewell. 

Just a huge “Thank you” and congratulations on last night’s Mahler 2 concert. It was simply, ‘wonderful’ and such a different experience for the choir and audience. The long wait for our participation was interesting and when we finally ‘took off’ it was spine tingling, both for us and the audience apparently. Nothing but praise was evident for the choir so brilliantly put together and rehearsed. If it was the last concert I shall ever do with the Bach Choir, (hopefully NOT - so much more to come with the next one),it fulfilled every sense of the privilege of being part of a great choir over the years.

PC, Mears Ashby

 
Many thanks indeed for letting me come and sing with you last night in what was a very good performance, and one I shall treasure. David Briggs is a tour de force and his performance quite staggering (I’m quite a hopeless organist!). The screen made it even more exciting to see how much has to be done at the same time as playing all those notes.. Thanks again and good luck with the rest of your season.

JW, Beeston

 
It was an incredible concert last night. I don't think I have ever seen the organ played so impressively, and the augmented Bach choir were superb.

AC, Duston

 
Many thanks for giving us the opportunity, to sing in that performance of Mahler 2. The whole event was superbly organised and a marvellous experience to be part of.

MH, Daventry

Please look at our website for further details of this series of concerts.