Choral Magic at St Michael’s
Last Saturday, March 7, the Chamber Choir took over the stunning space of St Michael’s Church, Framlingham, for a concert that was as polished as it was heartfelt. Under the direction of Claire Weston our Head of Singing, and accompanied by James Davy on the piano, the ensemble gave a continuous performance that kept the audience enthralled from start to finish.
The acoustics of St Michael’s were the unofficial star of the night. This stunning church in the heart of Framlingham with its impressively high stone arches gave the choirs voices a natural, shimmering resonance—perfect for the haunting opener, James MacMillan’s O Radiant Dawn. Whether it was the classic polyphony of Victoria’s Ave Maria or the sombre beauty of Chorum’s rendition of Purcell’s Thou Knowest Lord, the choir’s blend sounded effortless in the copious space.
A real highlight was César Franck’s Panis Angelicus. For this piece, the choir’s own multi-talented students stepped forward to form a string quartet tutored by Woodbridge School’s cello specialist Nadia Alzapiedi. It was a lovely, intimate moment that contrasted perfectly with the more minimalist, “icy” textures of Arvo Pärt’s Morning Star.
As the set moved into more modern territory, the mood lightened but the quality remained high. Elaine Hagenberg’s There Was a Time was a cinematic treat, while the familiarity of The Rose and You Raise Me Up clearly hit a chord with the crowd.
The energy really ramped up for the finale. The spiritual Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel was full of rhythmic punch, followed by a lightning-fast, witty rendition of John Rutter’s Sing a Song of Sixpence. The sheer vocal agility needed for that last one was impressive and sent everyone home on a high.
Huge credit goes to Claire Weston for pushing the choir to such professional heights, and to James Davy for his masterful support. It was a brilliant evening of music-making in a magnificent setting.
