Upcoming concerts
Concerts and Reviews
Great Choral Classics
Our most recent concert was a miscellany of sacred and secular music by Brahms, Bruckner, Fauré, Handel, Haydn, Parry, Bairstow, Rutter and Stainer. Ely Choral Society often presents concerts of only one or two works. However, in addition to the many settings of Masses, Requiems and Oratorios, there is a vast supply of smaller-scale choral works which pack the same punch!
The programme contained a rich miscellany of classic sacred works, from the 18th to the 20th centuries. We marked the anniversaries of the births of Anton Bruckner (200) and Sir Edward Bairstow (150), and of the death of Charles Villiers Stanford (100).
The grandeur of Sir Hubert Parry’s Blest Pair of Sirens stands next to Fauré’s prayerful Cantique de Jean Racine; John Rutter’s All things bright and beautiful is juxtaposed with Handel’s Coronation Anthem Zadok the Priest.
We all enjoyed the rich array of choral works in the stunning surroundings of St Mary’s Church. With Ely Choral Society, Ely Youth Choir and Glen Dempsey accompanist.
Conducted by Andrew Parnell
This page will be updated in August with full details of our next concert as described in summary on our home page.
Tickets £20 (with summer drinks) and £5 for U18s from choir members, www.elychoralsociety.org or at the door. Tickets are available from:
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Review of Ely Choral Society performance in St Mary’s Church, Ely on 13th July 2024
Ely Choral Society, Andrew Parnell (conductor), Glen Dempsey (organist) and Ely Youth Choir rose to the occasion again and gave a splendid concert in St Mary’s Church Ely on Saturday July 13.
While the programme contained music for a sacred place, therefore mostly on religious themes, the pieces were short and among some of the most effective and popular. I particularly liked Locus iste by Bruckner, How Lovely are they Dwellings by Brahms, the Ave Marias especially the one by Lindley and Cantique de Jean Racine by Faure.
Ely Youth Choir was the highlight of the second half with their beautiful performance of All things Bright and Beautiful by Sir John Rutter. Their performance of the first Ave Maria by Lindley was exceptional.
Ely Choral Society excelled with a gorgeous bass line featured in the Locus iste, and under Andrew Parnell’s expertise, the choir sang with precision, and varied dynamics that created exciting climaxes. It was very expressive even with single words, bringing the meaning of the works alive.
Glen Dempsey accompanied supportively when needed, for much of the music was unaccompanied. He also added variety to the programme by playing two organ solos which were admirable: a triumphant Imperial March by Elgar and a cohesive, sustained Fugue in A minor by Brahms.
Ely Youth Choir joined in with a number of items and when everyone performed the final Zadok the Priest by Handel, the church was filled with glorious sound – an excellent finale for a fine concert. The encore: The Long Day Closes by Sullivan, was of a different character and most fitting for the last item of the evening. It was languid and soothing, filled with charming sustained harmonies.
This was indeed a wonderful concert. Ely Choral Society may be heard again at their next concert on Saturday October 26th at 7.30pm in St Mary’s Church, Ely where they will be performing Chichester Psalms by Bernstein and the Requiem by Rutter.
Rosemary Westwell