Carmina in Style
2 April 2022
The Performance in Full Flight
Last night the choir was joined by Madrigalis, directed by Beth
Hodgson, the Keith Crompton Percussion Ensemble, pianists Jonathan
French and Maki Sekiya, soloists Philippa Hyde, Peter Martin, and
Njabulo Madlala, and narrator Graham Padden, for an astonishing
performance of Orff’s Carmina Burana. Before we began our Musical
Director was at the piano for a performance of Bob Chilcott’s A
Little Jazz Mass, given by Madrigalis. This was a perfect way to
settle the large audience down in the comfortable environs of
Spinney Hill Theatre, and we heard the upper voices to great
advantage.
Our Programme from the Audience
|
|
Our Soloists and Narrator
|
Carmina itself was simply stunning, not least due to Graham
Padden’s stunning narration. The work is sung in a mixture of Latin
and High Medieval German, so without the narration the audience are
left scrabbling for their programmes to try and follow the words.
And the snag is, that the work is so fast that the words fly by
unbelievably quick! Graham knows the work from the inside (he has
been a choir member for many years), but also has a career as a
professional actor, and his script struck the perfect balance
between being vivid and allowing the music to flow.
The Percussion Team
|
|
Pianists Jonathan and Maki
|
We were joined by three stunning soloists - Philippa Hyde
standing in for a Covid-absence (Jessica Smith), Peter Martin also
standing in for a Covid-absence (Rhys Batt), and the astonishing
voice of Njabulo Madlala. Our two virtuosic pianists and team of
percussionists completed the set. We are so lucky to have access to
this super venue with its excellent facilities (and excellent
parking) and offer thanks to Philip Cave who worked magic with
light, sound, and staff. Thank you.
Narrator Graham Padden in Full Flight
|
|
Our MD in action
|
|
