Spring Concert at St Michael’s Church Framlingham
Photo: Stephen McKay / Framlingham Church
Where to begin? At the beginning – and our thanks to St Michael’s Church for its splendid hospitality. Ms Weston welcomed all, and the Chamber Choir raised the roof with O, Radiant Dawn to set the tone for what lay ahead. It was compelling, mesmerising and full of drama. Purcell, Parry and Bruckner kept up the momentum marvellously!
Then the Chamber Orchestra under Mr Turner’s baton danced beguilingly on Holst’s Brook Green – the first of their three wonderful visits to centre stage. Chorum, our new all girls small choir, offered the first of the ‘treats’ with the ever-popular Panis Angelicus of Franck and a less familiar but no less beautiful Mendelssohn, before the full Choir reassembled for some truly rousing Finzi – God is Gone Up – and all the organ stops are pulled out!
A fantastic first half – topped by the second? It had to be a close run thing. The orchestra’s Grieg was gorgeous, its St Paul’s Suite quite exceptional (with a showman’s finale to celebrate!); Chorum (Elgar) and the Choir (Palestrina, Victoria, Stainer, and Taverner’s riveting and haunting The Lamb); and then all together now for Mozart’s Ave Verum Corpus. Oh joy! What an evening!
Many, many congratulations to all the performers, to Mr Turner and Ms Weston (and in absentio Mr Milton ), and many thanks to our audience for braving the wind and rain – it was worth it!
