Saturday 13 July 2002
St Pauls Church, Wimbledon Park
Golden Jubilee Concert
Thames Philharmonic Choir

Concert made for a fine evening

Last Saturday evening, July 13th saw the Summer Concert of the Thames Philharmonic Choir. The venue for this delightful annual event was St Paul's Church, Wimbledon Park, and this was to be in celebration of the Golden Jubilee.

The programme was a gorgeous choice of Royal lolliops and contrasting quieter works written by British and French composers around a Royal theme and directed by John Bate.

The glorious opener was Parry's 'I was Glad' where choir and organ combined to thrill. The interlaced strong part-singing of this choir was richly demonstrated in Finzi and Ireland's contributions to 'A Garland for the Queen', Britten's 'Choral Dances from Gloriana' being equally delicious an offering in unaccompanied song.

Handel's 'Zadok the Priest' was visibly enjoyed by all, and led to one of the utter highlights of the evening: the singing of mezzo-soprano Heather Shipp. Her Saint-Saens and Purcell 'Dido' by sensitive phrasing and exquisite tone quality compelled us into her world by emotional charge and equally was she able in the lighthearted Offenbach. Roger Beeson was her accompanist.

Stephen Disley also accompanied larger choral works on organ, and gave us grand renderings of Walton, Grayston Ives and especially of the Elgar 'Imperial March'.

For the Finale the audience participated: we sang Vaughan Williams, Parry's 'Jerusalem' though we had the returned joy of listening to Heather again in verse one; plus 'Rule Britannia' and (what a treat) all three verses of the National Anthem.

All in all this was a fine evening!

MN Woodroffe, Richmond and Twickenham Times, 19 July 2002