RESOUND: PICK & MIX
Resound have made a name and built a reputation amongst the city’s community choirs based on what I think are three clear factors. Firstly the quality of their singing, they have over the years recruited and developed a fine ensemble of excellent singers. Secondly ambition, this choir has never stepped away from tackling new, complex and often avante garde compositions, challenging work for them and sometimes for we the audience. Thirdly their eclectic choice of material, in part influenced by factor two, but at the same not afraid of having fun.
And in this festival time concert fun was never far away as they took to the platform in the beautiful surroundings of The Chapel Royal. It’s venue that suits this small ensemble and the acoustic works well as they perform without the bolstering addition of electronic amplification – and it’s all the better for being unamplified. There is a purity of sound that is undeniably better in my view and makes Resound truly stand out.
I was in my own mind somewhat misled by the title Pick & Mix, and crazily expected a selection of song related to confectionery, silly me. What we had was a programme of music chosen and voted for by the members of the choir.
The evening opened with Hide And Seek by Imogen Heap, a beautiful piece but one that might have been served better later in the porogramme when the choir had hit its stride. Sympatique had choir master Sam Barton delivering a fine solo with the whole choir and Lionel Clark followed with a passionate rendering of Jacques Brel’s Port Of Amsterdam taking centre stage alone.
Humour next from Andreas Hirsche with his hilarious but beautifully sung Old Fashioned Girl. Ms Kitt would have loved it!
Falling slowly shows this choir at their very best Toby Rinkoff Bass, JJ Thurlow-Criss Baritone and Tony Oliver Tenor, precision in every sense and this continues with the fascinating Visions Of Gideon, two real highlights.
Next Orange Coloured Sky, a quartet delivered by Keri Davies, Sam Barton, Toby Rinkoff and James Frey-Croft.
We are told that The Beatles could never perform Here There And Everywhere live, the harmonies too complex but David Farrer on guitar and lead vocal with James Frey-Croft, Tony Oliver and JJ Thurlow-Criss showed us exactly why. It was delightful but just a little too quiet sadly.
Visions and Dreams featured once again James Frey-Croft and JJ Thurlow-Criss and was the penultimate confection of part one as they finished with a silly ditty called intermission, great fun!
The second half opened with the rousing There is A Meeting with some soaring moments from James Frey-Croft and then in wonderful contrast the very beautiful Ave Maris Stella, a trio featuring Andreas Hirsche, Keri Davies and David Farrer.
Beautiful Rain is a real favourite, Ladysmith Black Mambazo class with Stuart Heaton belting out those hearty burst of energy.
Blew By You is Resound at their funniest, a quintet formed by Stuart Heaton, Andy Platt, JJ Thurlow-Criss, David Farrer and Keri Davies complete with wigs and barber shop chutzpah having great fun.
Ballad of Maria was introduced and sung by Darren Clarke, a tiny stumble at the star more than compensated for by the clarity of his diction and delivery.
La Mer is too often delivered as a weird power ballad but this arrangement featuring Andreas Hirsche and Tony Oliver had a delicate and gentle quality.
To finish we get Frobishire Bay, a wonderful traditional maritime song that showed that a set need not end on a big banger of a number. That said, and encore of Drunken Sailor left us all with a smile on our faces.
The choir is accompanied by the excellent pianist Gaynor Gallant who plays with real precision and delicacy.
Resound set their own bar very high and never fail to delight and entertain.
Andrew Kay
15 May
Chapel Royal Brighton
Rating:
