Resound with Rebelles: Hope For The Holidays

There are several things that you can almost guarantee from these two exceptional local choral groups, excellence in sound of course, and this is what you should expect from an audition choir, but above that exciting programming. As a music lover I can enjoy an evening of festive favourites yes, but I am more thrilled to hear works that are unknown or less familiar – and that is what you get. In a beautifully formed programme of old and less old not only are the performers challenged but the audience too. I also loved the seamless way the evening ran, no speeches or silliness, just a finely tuned experience even down to the way the two choirs came to the stage, re-grouped and left the stage throughout the evening. I love the way their soloists perform still backed by the choirs rather then standing out front and delivering their spot, far more interesting musically than sanitised karaoke! And when it comes to challenge what better display of skill than Ramkali which not only challenges our western musical forms in tonality but also in rhythm. And they nailed it earning a rousing round of applause.

Hats off too to the excellent musicians who accompany the choirs so well.

There was humour of course but well balanced with the serious stuff – which is the real core of these two ensembles’ prowess and they should be very proud of this, and I left filled with seasonal joy and a real desire to find out more about some of the composers that I had feasted on.

St Andrew’s Hove

16 December

Andrew Kay

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