A CHORAL CELEBRATION GLYNDEBOURNE

© Glyndebourne Productions Ltd. Photo: Richard Hubert Smith

In recent years the jewel in the crown of the Sussex Downs, internationally respected Glyndebourne Opera has expanded its musical offering beyond the prestigious summer festival. What was once known as as the touring season, taking highlights from their repertoire to venues around the UK, now exists as the Autumn programme, a season that offers audiences the chance to see operas from the summer but in addition a series of concerts that culminate in December with their annual and much loved Christmas music events featuring the Glyndebourne Sinfonia and Glyndebourne Chorus both in the steady hands of Chorus Director Aidan Oliver.

But this year, the 80th anniversary of Glyndebourne, they have added a new event, A Choral Celebration, and it truly was a celebration.

An afternoon, cold outside, but warm in every sense inside the beautiful interior of the auditorium, especially when revived by a large glass of mulled wine, opened with a few words from Oliver, short, welcoming and informative. How I wish that so many more conductors would break that fourth wall and talk to audiences.

The programme was a baroque Christmas feast of delights that started with JS Bach’s Wachet Auf, familiar but captivatingly performed with the chorus seamlessly drifting onto the platform part by part, something I have never seen done before but something that Glyndebourne does so well when presenting music, not only beautiful playing but stylishly lit and on occasions using excellent projections. This season’s A Child Of Our Time featured brilliant projected but unobtrusive animated imagery that worked so well. This time the cyclorama behind was simply filled with gently changing colour, not rock and roll, just a delicate enhancement of atmosphere.

The Bach was followed by Vivaldi’s Gloria wonderfully familiar and uplifting, not specifically a Christmas work but certainly celebratory.

After the interval Corelli’s Concerto Grosso in G Minor, a Christmas Concerto and one that displayed the fine skills of the Sinfonia to best effect. Finally we are take back to JS Bach and his Christmas Oratorio which punches in with gunfire burst of timpani and heraldic blast from three natural trumpets, rousing stuff.

Soprano Charlotte Bowden © Glyndebourne Productions Ltd. Photo: Richard Hubert Smith

Counter tenor Tom Scott-Cowell © Glyndebourne Productions Ltd. Photo: Richard Hubert Smith

Soprano Hannah Crocker © Glyndebourne Productions Ltd. Photo: Richard Hubert Smith

Tenor George Curnow © Glyndebourne Productions Ltd. Photo: Richard Hubert Smith

Bass Richard Mofidian © Glyndebourne Productions Ltd. Photo: Richard Hubert Smith

Throughout the concert we were treated to  the fine voices of soprano Charlotte Bowden, bedecked in shimmering ice blue crystals, and soprano Hannah Crocker who stepped forward from the chorus for the Vivaldi. Counter tenor Tom Scott-Cowell had a tiny stumble but recovered quickly and in the second half his voice soared splendidly as did tenor George Curnow, who once again stepped forward from the ranks of the chorus for the Christmas Oratorio, and last but not least the rich bass majesty of Michael Mofidian.

Glyndebourne Sinfonia leader Richard Malone © Glyndebourne Productions Ltd. Photo: Richard Hubert Smith

A word too for the ever energetic and animated playing of leader Richard Malone whose constant smile is the evidence of just how much he and the rest of this fine ensemble enjoy what they do.

This new addition to the season is a real delight and the sold out auditorium certainly responded appropriately.

Andrew Kay

7 December

Glyndebourne

[rating 4/5]