SOMERSET CHAMBER CHOIR: LA MUSIQUE SACRÉE

View Programme for this concert

I had an early indication of the popularity of the Somerset Chamber Choir when I arrived early at King’s College Chapel, Taunton, only to be told that the car park was already full. Attracting a full house of over 450 people was just one of the positives in a very successful afternoon for this remarkable choir.

In a programme of “beautiful French sacred music”, and with a clever mix of early with more modern music, conductor Graham Caldbeck had fashioned a concert that delivered considerably more than the sum of its parts. From Du Mont and Charpentier, through Franck, Saint-Saëns and Fauré, to Poulenc, Duruflé and Villette, a wide spread of the finest French choral tradition was represented here.

Rarely have I heard Fauré’s Requiem sung with such caring attention to detail – the choir was on excellent form, and the soloists Alison Naftalin and John Broad matched up to the same exacting standards. The performers treated us to a truly moving performance.

And this was not just easy music – the choir negotiated the unexpected twists and turns of Poulenc’s Salve Regina with apparent ease and this listener found this piece, and the whole concert, most affecting.

Virtuoso organist, Richard Pearce, was impressive both in the Requiem and in Duruflé’s Toccata from Suite Opus 5, a showpiece that challenges the notion that organists have only ten fingers and two legs like the rest of us.

We are blessed indeed to have such a choir on our doorstep – all they need is a bigger car park.

Michael Capiens

28 February 2007