The Trinity Singers
Concert Reviews
From the Cheddar Valley Gazette, April 6, 2006
An Outstanding Performance
The Trinity Singers treated Churchill to a wonderful choral programme in St John the Baptist Church on Saturday. The concert opened with a setting of Our Father by Janacek, in which the Trinity Singers were joined by the Churchill Community School Senior Choir and soloist, Julian Forbes. The 23-year-old tenor from Cambridge gave a moving performance that was made all the more touching by the beautiful tone of the combined choir. The presence of Churchill Community School lent a power and emotion to the chorus that is rare in such young voices – this is surely a collaboration that should be seen again.
The exquisite tonal crafting of the Janacek was beautifully complemented by Rossini’s Petite Messe Solonelle, which is ironically neither petite nor solemn, making it the perfect piece for this April Fool’s Day concert. Rossini surely had a mischievous twinkle in his eye when he described this delightfully good-humoured work as his “last mortal sin of old age”. The piece is a fiendishly tricky work but the Trinity Singers, under the skilful baton of Jeremy Martin, were more than up to the challenge. This was perhaps their best concert yet, a glowing tribute to the dedication of their founder and conductor who has uncovered and nurtured a wealth of talent. Soloists in the piece were local stars Alice Murray (soprano) and Sarah Joskey (alto) whose moving duet, Qui Tollis, was so beautiful that it had the tears running. They were joined by Julian Forbes (tenor) and Jonathan Sells (bass), both post-graduates from Trinity College in Cambridge. Julian’s silky tenor voice well suited the spirited Domine Deus, whereas the deep velvet of Jonathan’s bass brought immense soul to the Quoniam. All four exhibited a flawless professionalism that highlighted the operatic quality of the work. Rossini’s quirky and humorous accompanying passages, particularly at the end of the choruses, were superbly performed by Sam Hayes (piano), director of music at both Queen’s College and the University Church, Cambridge, and Joseph Fort (harmonium and organ), junior organ scholar at Emmanuel College, Cambridge.
How exciting to be at a concert in a little country church were the quality of the soloists and accompanists was such that they would not have been out of place in a major London concert hall.
The Trinity Singers are a very special choir who produce an outstanding performance every time.
Gareth Jones
The exquisite tonal crafting of the Janacek was beautifully complemented by Rossini’s Petite Messe Solonelle, which is ironically neither petite nor solemn, making it the perfect piece for this April Fool’s Day concert. Rossini surely had a mischievous twinkle in his eye when he described this delightfully good-
How exciting to be at a concert in a little country church were the quality of the soloists and accompanists was such that they would not have been out of place in a major London concert hall.
The Trinity Singers are a very special choir who produce an outstanding performance every time.
Gareth Jones