What a delightful concert this was. Its title ‘A Night at the Opera’, as Donald Judge pointed out, makes many people think of the Marx Brothers in that unforgettable film: but what the Bollington Festival Choir and soloists presented was a programme of arias, choruses and piano pieces, ranging from the Baroque, starting with Purcell, on to the Romantic period and ending with the Russians. It all gave much joy to a packed audience. The piano, either solo or in full operatic accompaniment sustained and enhanced this diverse programme.
The choir, smaller in number for this evening, was in fine form. In the hands of their conductor, Donald Judge, they are now an excellent musical instrument, pliant and flexible, and at the same time exact in precision and detail. Transition from one period, as in the Baroque, to another, as in the Romantic, found them awake, vibrant and responsive to the changes in style and expression. They sang without strain, their tone and balance of voices very good, thoroughly enjoying their work. Their quiet, effective entry in the Carmen ‘Habanera’ was a pleasure to hear, and there were many moments like that during the evening. Their final account of ‘The Procession of the Nobles’ from Mlada moved from the quiet seamless entry until it gathered strength for a most noble ending of the whole concerts.
The mezzo soprano, Beth Mackay is a lovely young artist. She led us into the ‘Lament’ of Dido, then the exuberance of young Cherubino, and on to the allurements of Carmen and Delilah. Her good rounded tone and indeed the charm of her presentation were warmly received by the audience, the quality of tone and restrained expressiveness at its best, perhaps in the Saint-Saens ‘Mon coeur s’ouvre ..’
Throughout the recital, the pianist Jamie Thompson sustained every item, and gave an outstanding display of excellence in support or solo. From the first moment of his solo ‘Sarabande’ by Purcell, with its calm, measured beauty, the eloquence of his playing was fully and brilliantly present, responding to every demand of the original orchestral setting in each item. His final solo piece was a bravura performance, greeted with cheers as well as applause. It was all done at one day’s notice, replacing another indisposed pianist.
Donald Judge brought this delightful evening of pleasure to an audience who can value his remarkable gifts as composer and conductor. May we hear a retrospect now and again of his own compositions.
JH