Celestial Sounds

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Somerset Chamber Choir

Conductor, Graham Caldbeck

Sunday 30 September at Church of All Saints with St. Saviour, Weston-Super-Mare.

Concert in aid of Cancer Research UK

Described in the publicity as a concert of “beautiful choral classics from Germany, Austria and Italy”, Somerset Chamber Choir through the quality of performance under its conductor Graham Caldbeck also achieved the title of the concert, Celestial Sounds. The occasion last Sunday afternoon at the Church of All Saints, Weston in aid of Cancer Research UK was the latest in a series of concerts in which the choir presents a popular programme of choral classics on behalf of a local or national charity. 

The danger of many shorter pieces is that it can produce the feeling of a rather haphazard patchwork quilt of disparate items. However in Graham Caldbeck, Somerset Chamber Choir has a wizard in conjuring up programmes that are cleverly thought through and with the help of the apt introductions by conductor and organist (Richard Pearce) there was always a sense of progression and unity.

The ‘celestial sounds’ were achieved through a choir that has voices coaxed into producing a blended colour without being monochrome. There is the ability here to sing with a well-defined piano and also to unleash a largely unforced weighty dynamic at the most appropriate moments. If the tenors were sometimes underweight in the balance it was rarely a problem for this programme.

Several organ solos and superb accompaniments from Richard Pearce added to the enjoyment of a Sunday afternoon entertainment from which everyone benefited: the choir from a building with an enjoyable singers-acoustic, the audience from a well-sung and well-played programme and the vital work of Cancer Research UK.

 Andrew Maddocks