Taverner’s Supernatural Songs

This sell-out event more than lived up to its promise. The City of London Sinfonia were on sparklingly fine form and the Brighton Festival Chorus once again proved their worth. Catherine Carby delivered Taverner’s Supernatural Songs with confidence and ease, her clear tones rising to the heights of All Saints’ rafters above the deep percussive moods of the score. Alexandra Wood gave a soaring performance of Pärt’s Fratres, a simple theme richly decorated as it evolves. The Hilliard Ensemble, in their final year, first gave us Bryars’ The Voice of Saint Columba, but it was in Litany that we felt the full force of the assembled performers and the magnificent beauty of Pärts’ extraordinary work which, in turn, brought out the very best of each part, the solo voices, their perfectly balanced ensemble sound and the full power when joined by the chorus. With no view of the orchestra and performers I was happy to let my eyes rise to the vaulted ceiling and simply soak up this stunning aural treat.
Taverner’s Supernatural Songs
All Saints Church, Hove
21 May
Andrew Kay
5 stars