Sunday 5 May 2002
Queen Elizabeth Hall, South Bank, SE1
Verdi Requiem
Thames Festival Orchestra
Thames Philharmonic Choir
Konstanz Oratorio Choir

To be performed to best effect Verdi's Requiem needs a large choir and soloists who are as happy on the operatic stage as they are on the concert platform. On Sunday 5th May the combined forces of the Thames Philharmonic Choir (based in Richmond, Putney and Kingston) and Konstanz Oratorio Choir (Konstanz is twinned with Richmond), backed by the Thames Festival Orchestra, proved equal to Verdi's challenge, and the soloists did not disappoint. The drama of the work was captured from its outset by conductor, John Bate, who did not allow the energy of his performers to flag at any time and exploited to the full the huge dynamic range called for in the score as well as the acoustics of the hall - full to capacity

In the Requiem Verdi uses his chorus to sing in several different styles, which this choir was able to characterise well. The syllabic utterances of the Liber scriptus of the Dies Irae, for example, were conveyed as meaningfully as the atmospheric unison of the Agnus Dei, whilst the work's climaxes benefited from the restraint which this large choir was able to exercise in expressive and lyrical passages. The four soloists fulfilled their demanding roles: soprano Shelley Everall kept up the momentum throughout the wide vocal range of her solos and excelled in the final Libera Me; tenor David Newman had power as well as lyrical beauty, and mezzo-soprano Yvonne Howard and bass Michael Bundy demonstrated such impressive musicality in their solo and ensemble singing that proved that this work, though so well known, can yet be subjected to very individual performances.

The conductors and organisers of both choirs can be justly proud of the liaison they have formed. As major sponsors of the Thames Philharmonic Choir and this event, Kingston University are to be congratulated on their cultural vision and initiative.

Gloria Toplis , Richmond and Twickenham Times, 10 May 2002