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Bach's St Matthew Passion at Southwell Minster on 7 April
Grahame Whitehead, in the Nottingham Evening Post, wrote:
RICHARD Roddis directed Sinfonia Chorale and the Baroque Ensemble in a performance of Bach's St Matthew Passion which was perfectly matched to its setting, the Minster, on an evening in Holy Week.
Bach's fusion of dramatic narrative with personal spiritual reflection was recreated with a simple directness which always left space for quiet reflection. English surtitles projected onto a large screen communicated the meaning of the German texts well.
Roddis brought a strong sense of drama and pace to his role as the Evangelist, as well as exemplary clarity; Mario Solimene as Christus had both presence and vocal stature.
There was some fine singing, too, by soloists Kate Semmens, Benedict Hymas, Jeremy Leaman and counter-tenor Aric Prentice.
The choir's well-balanced, disciplined sound was equally at home in the chorale melodies and in the dramatic interjections which punctuate the narrative, and was complemented by the excellent playing of the Baroque Ensemble.
Future Events
- Summer programme:
- 4 July at 7.30 pm American Concert with Alistair Parnell in the West Bridgford Methodist Church
- 7 November 2009, 8.00 pm Rachmaninov's Vespers at St Barnabas Cathedral, Nottingham
- 13 December at 7.30 pm Christmas Concert at Patchings Art Centre, Calverton
- 15 December at 7.30 pm Christmas Carol Concert on behalf of the Alzheimer's Society
- 16 January 2010 Come and Sing/Play: a workshop centred on Monteverdi's Vespers
- 20 March 2010 Monteverdi's Vespers of 1610, in its 400th anniversary year, at Southwell Minster.
About the Sinfonia Chorale
The Sinfonia Chorale is recognised as one of the leading small choirs in the East Midlands.
The choir was formed in 1966 as the English Sinfonia Chorale, and since 1991 Richard Roddis has been its Director. In that time it has enhanced its reputation for fine, expressive and exciting choral singing, and for ambitious and innovative programming. Several concerts are given every year in Nottingham and the East Midlands.
The choir has around forty members including professional musicians and amateur instrumentalists.