Waverley Singers

"Waverley Singers in fine voice"

The following review by John Bawden appeared in The Herald newspaper on 22 March 2013:

When Prince Esterhazy first heard Beethoven's Mass in C, which he had commissioned, he was evidently not impressed. Had he by some miraculous means being present at St Andrew's Garrison Church on Saturday, he might well have revised his opinion.

The Waverley Singers gave a powerful and compelling performance of the work, capably directed by Richard Pearce and partnered by the excellent Brandenburg Sinfonia.

The choir’s carefully controlled dynamic contrast and expressive phrasing was impressive, they made a tremendous impact in places like the explosive start of the Gloria, and the work’s demanding fugal passages were executed with precise rhythmic accuracy and considerable panache.

There was a touch of hesitancy about the Sanctus, but the ensuing energetic Hosanna was thrilling, and the four excellent young soloists sang beautifully in the lyrical Benedictus.

The opening item in the programme was Beethoven's rarely heard cantata, Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage (not to be confused with Mendelssohn’s more famous overture of the same name). Choir and orchestra immediately seized our attention with a beautifully hushed first entry, but the sopranos were not entirely successful in negotiating the demanding, and typically Beethovenian, high octave leaps which soon followed.

Between the Beethoven pieces, the audience was treated to two of Mozart's finest works. The Symphony No.40 in G minor was admirably played by the Brandenburg Sinfonia, though they did not quite capture the restless urgency of the first movement. A highlight of the evening was soprano Jennifer France’s superb performance of the ever popular Exultate Jubilate. Her breathtaking vocal agility and beautifully clear tone were ideally suited to this wonderful piece, nowhere more so than in the virtuosic final Alleluia.

Altogether this was a thoroughly enjoyable concert. Choir, orchestra and soloists, under Richard Pearce’s clear baton, presented a well-balanced programme to an impressively high standard.