Gravesham Choral Society

REVIEW - Saturday 8th May 2004 - Beethoven "Missa Solemnis"

KEEPING MUSIC - AND PEACE - ALIVE

The world in which we live today gives us the technology of music at the touch a button. Superb recordings of classical music are instantly available in your sitting room from CDs and the Internet - but, for me, they will always lack the spirit and soul of live performances. So, to be part of an appreciative audience in Rochester Cathedral on Saturday evening at Gravesham Choral Society and orchestra's latest concert was a particular thrill. Our shared experience was to be entertained by over 160 musicians with a very accomplished performance of Beethoven's Missa Solemnis.

The Mass, written by Beethoven in the early 1820s, is far from solemn. It contains some violent and explosive passages, as well as some more contemplative sections. The four soloists - Elaine McKrill [soprano], Tania Williams [mezzo-soprano], Robin Green [tenor] and Simon Thorpe [bass] - all performed well, their voices blending together sensitively in the four-part sections, as well as ringing out expertly in their individual solos.

For the choir, parts of the Mass - notably the "et vitam venturi saeculi" section in the Credo - are fiendishly difficult and one sensed the collective sigh of relief when they reached the final Amen of that section with no mishaps!

However, when Gravesham Choral Society sings, with the high standards consistently demanded of them by their expert conductor, Alan Vincent, it is sometimes tempting to judge their performances against those of professional choirs.

We must remember that these are amateurs, singing simply because they enjoy it. It is our bonus in the audience that they do it so well.

As always, the orchestra of over 40 players, contributed skillfully to the overall performance and special mention must be made of the solo violin skills of the Leader, John Ludlow, who accompanied many of the quieter sections.

The concert, even mentioned twice the previous week on Classic FM, was a notable success and a fitting contribution to the celebration of the 1,400th anniversary of Rochester Cathedral.

Remembering other - much more destructive - 21st century technology that requires only the pressing of a button, the Mass ends with dona nobis pacem - grant us peace. Amen to that.