Thursday 10 October 2002
All Saints' Parish Church, Market Place, Kingston
Mozart Requiem
Elgar Serenade for Strings
Mozart Divertimento No 1 in D
Thames Festival Orchestra
Thames Philharmonic Choir

Thames Philharmonic Choir's Magnificent Requiem

The Thames Philharmonic Choir provided one of the highlights of the Kingston Autumn Arts Festival last Thursday evening in All Saints' Parish Church. Before a capacity audience of 400 and under the baton of its Artistic Director, John Bate, the Choir demonstrated in a very convincing fashion why it is one of London's finest. The Choir was more than ably assisted in this task by the Thames Festival Orchestra and by the outstanding soloists: Katherine Manley (soprano), Nicola Stonehouse (mezzo), Thomas Walker (tenor) and James Harrison (bass).

The "hors d'oeuvres" of the first half of the concert consisted of Mozart's Salzburg Symphony no.1 and Elgar's Serenade for Strings opus 20. The latter was beautifully and delicately paced and, as a result, it was very warmly received. The second half of the concert saw the massed ranks of the 100-strong Choir assembling to tackle one of the peaks of the choral repertoire, Mozart's Requiem in D minor, K626. Despite our familiarity with the work, the number of outstanding performances it receives are pitifully few and far between.

In providing one of the rare exceptions, the Thames Philharmonic Choir demonstrated warmth, vigour, impressive discipline and wonderfully modulated dynamic contrast that brought out the drama, the poignancy and all the varying degrees of light and shade inherent in the work. The strings and wind of the Thames Festival Orchestra under their leader, Matthew Scrivener, produced a warm, rich sound, the dramatic highlights of which were punctuated in a highly effective, yet economic manner by the trumpets. Additional dramatic effect was provided by the timpani, in particular during the closing bars of the Requiem.

The impressive ensemble work produced by John Bate was most in evidence during the passages that brought together the soloists. These deeply moving moments were performed with exquisite, emotional subtlety. All in all, the concert was a joy and the Choir, Kingston Autumn Arts Festival and Kingston University (the Choir's major sponsor) are to be congratulated for providing the opportunity of hearing such great music performed with such feeling and affection.

Colin Bloxham, Richmond and Twickenham Times, 18 October 2002