Performance: The Glories of England

School of Music

Review: Tara Werner

Anglophiles would have purred at this concert on Saturday night, containing music by some of England's most famous composers, or those associated with the country by circumstance.

Why Sammartini was included stretched the boundaries, since his only connection was that he lived there for a period. But the programme worked well, juxtaposing greats such as Purcell with Britten and Tavener.

This contrast in styles also made the programme lively and stimulating - the University Baroque under James Tibbles tackling the early music scores, the University Singers enjoying the contemporary pieces.

Starting off with Purcell's famous Chacony the musicians showed a fine sense of ensemble, reinforced by the composer's Suite from The Moor's Revenge.

While soloist Nicola Elford started off the Sammartini Recorder Concerto in F with assurance, her self-confidence seemed to desert her in the third movement.

As light relief, William Walton's delightful songs based on Edith Sitwell's zany poetry gave soprano Glenese Blake and pianist Rosemary Barnes as much enjoyment as the audience.

The University Singers under the baton of Karen Grylls seemed to go from strength to strength. The sheer beauty of Tavener's elegant Hymn to the Virgin, with four singers off stage echoing the main body, highlighted their accuracy.

Likewise the composer's bright-sounding Today the Virgin and Britten's Three Dances from Gloriana were little gems.,

This quality was also evident in Finzi's My Spirit Sang All Day and Rubbra's arrangement of the nostalgic Dance to Your Daddy.

Both Jehovah, quam multi sunt hostes and Rejoice in the Lord alway by Purcell sounded lacklustre in an otherwise agreeable performance.