Taunton’s Christmas ‘Messiah’

December 2011

St. Mary Magdalene, Taunton

The first part of Handel’s oratorio ‘Messiah’ celebrates the Christmas story and so it has become traditional to hear the work during the festive season. Last Sunday, to a packed St. Mary Magdalene’s in Taunton, we heard a splendid performance given by John Cole’s Amici Choir and OrchestraWest. The special feature of this performance was undoubtedly the pared down orchestration which enabled a real focus on the individual part writing as well as a clarity of vocal performance so often missing in more hefty offerings.

The performance featured four excellent soloists. Soprano, Katie Bond, delivered her arias with great feeling, ease and beauty. Clara Wood, alto, sang gently with lovely phrasing and an almost boy treble quality to her voice. The men were in excellent voice too. Tenor, Paul Smy, dashed off his arias with authority and bass-baritone, Adam Green, sang his part as if he had been singing it all his life – which I suspect he had. His part is a big sing and he did it with no strain whatsoever. The singing of ‘The trumpet shall sound’ was terrific and magnificently accompanied by trumpeter Stuart Ellsmore.

The choir were, once again, on cracking good form. Their singing was crisp, tight and light where necessary. The sopranos in particular held their line tirelessly throughout the evening. The sparse orchestration enabled considerable opportunity for pointing up the dynamic writing as well as giving true expression to the words. This was most evident in the famous ‘For unto us a Child is born’ chorus which started almost like a conversation between the voices before arriving and exhorting the words ‘Wonderful, Counsellor, the Prince of Peace’. It was thrilling experience for the audience.

Messiah is a long work and it can drag but John Cole made sure that the tempi tripped along nicely. He adroitly co-ordinated the ensemble playing making sure that everything sounded together beautifully. The continuo parts of Andrew Carter on harpsichord and Sara Lovell on cello were wonderfully sustained throughout the performance and overall this was evening of great music making. At the end the audience were understandably enthusiastic in their appreciation. John Cole, Amici and OrchestraWest had demonstrated once again why the experience of live performance is so important.

Wayne Bennett