Tuesday 2 June 2009

And now, in English (with thanks to Cate Avery for the translation)

From the Kolner Stadt-Anzeiger

Moments of great opera

By Ingeborg Schwenke-Runkel, 02.06.09, 09:41 h

Slightly shortened, but no less thrilling: Handel's "Messiah" in English with English guests. This was a joint production of the Henley Choral Society and the Figuralchor of the Leichlingen Kantorei.


With Kantorei choir from Henley

More than 100 voices: singers from Leichlingen and Henley.

LEICHLINGEN - Hallelujah: After the last sound of "Messiah" died away, the audience exploded, jumping to their feet to celebrate the performance. A little opera, a touch of tragedy, a dash of chamber music and a generous dose of moving music: that, in brief, describes the "Messiah" which was given on Whit Sunday in Leichlingen's Am Hammer auditorium, and which lifted the spirits and gladdened the hearts of those who heard it - not with the thousand tongues of the Pentecost, but by over a hundred singers. George Frederick Handel's most popular oratorio was performed as a joint production by the Henley Choral Society and the Figuralchor of the Leichlingen Kantorei.

This musical telling of Jesus’s life was sung in its original English, as is now so often the custom when good musicians are at work. Of course, this was also a nod to those who had come from the twin town in England, as indeed was the gesture to stand for the Hallelujah Chorus, which is a tradition in that country. Bettina Strübel has long been known to many – not merely concert-goers in Leichlingen – as a musician of this calibre, and understands how to marry the demands of a composition with those of the performers. For "Messiah" this meant elastic choral sections and an orchestral tone with the clarity required of chamber music. And the balance between expression and construction was maintained, so that fugal sections (to take an example) were not made to serve the composition as an end in itself but illustrated the text.

One example was the crescendo in the thrice-repeated cry, "Who is this King of Glory?" The audience had no hint of the efforts made during rehearsal but saw only the exuberance of the singers. This was music-making in the best possible sense.

With commitment

The few moments that were not quite so harmonious might in fact be reminiscent of Beckmesser, because word-painting with sound always took centre stage. The Dusseldorf Philharmonie, an ensemble made up of freelance musicians, performed not just with workmanlike accuracy but reflected Handel's warmth and sympathy at the unfolding story through pithy rhythms and a soft melodious tone. The soloists provided moments of great opera – without any props, but just by the colour of their rendition.

This will certainly not be the last time we hear from the young counter-tenor Daniel Lager - a voice with a future. Christina Müskens’s soprano voice combined sweetness and clarity. Wolfgang Thesing (tenor) painted both beautiful melodies and lively coloraturas; and Will Dawes demonstrated his versatility, since he not only sang the bass solo part but is also the Director of the Henley Choral Society.

What the press said - from the Kolner Stadt-Anzeiger

Momente von großer Oper

Von Ingeborg Schwenke-Runkel, 02.06.09, 09:41h

Leicht gekürzt, doch nicht minder mitreißend: Händels „Messiah“ in Englisch mit englischen Gästen. Aufgeführt wurde er als Gemeinschaftsproduktion der Henley Choral Society und des Figuralchores der Leichlinger Kantorei.

Leichlingen - Halleluja: Nach dem letzten Ton des „Messiah“ entlud sich die Spannung. Die Menschen sprangen auf und bejubelten die Aufführung. Ein Stückchen Oper, ein Hauch von Tragödie, eine Prise Kammermusik und ganz viel herzbewegende Musik: So lässt sich in aller Kürze der „Messiah“ beschreiben, der Pfingstsonntag die Gemüter in der Leichlinger Aula Am Hammer erhellte, erfreute und erhitzte - nicht mit tausend Zungen gesprochen, wohl aber mit mehr als hundert Stimmen gesungen. Georg Friedrich Händels populärstes Oratorium erklang als Gemeinschaftsproduktion der Henley Choral Society und des Figuralchores der Leichlinger Kantorei.

Die musikdramatische Jesus-Biografie erklang im Original, in Englisch, wie es inzwischen schöner Brauch geworden ist, wenn verantwortungsvolle Musiker am Werk sind. Natürlich war dies auch eine Verbeugung vor den englischen Gästen aus der Partnerstadt, ebenso wie die Geste, sich zum Halleluja zu erheben, so, wie es auf der Insel Tradition ist. Bettina Strübel, das wissen nicht nur Leichlinger Konzertfreunde seit vielen Jahren, ist eine solch verantwortungsvolle Musikerin, die es versteht, die Anforderungen einer Komposition mit den Möglichkeiten der Ausführenden zu verbinden. Das bedeutete für den „Messiah“: elastische, federnde Chorpassagen und ein kammermusikalisch-klares, durchsichtiges Instrumentationsbild. Der Ausdruck ging nicht auf Kosten der Konstruktion verloren. Das heißt: Fugenpassagen, etwa, gerieten nicht zum kompositorischen Selbstzweck, sondern verdeutlichten den Text, indem sie ihn gliederten.

Beispielhaft gelang die Steigerung im dreimaligen Ausruf „Who is this King of Glory“. So erfuhren die Zuhörer nichts von den Mühen des Übens und Einstudierens, doch alles von der beglückenden Erfahrung des Singens. Das war „Musik machen“ im besten Sinn.

Mit Hingabe

Die wenigen, nicht ganz so stimmigen Einsätze mögen allenfalls Beckmesser anmerken, denn Klang als Aussage spielte stets die erste Geige. Auch die Philharmonie Düsseldorf, ein Ensemble, das sich aus freischaffenden Musikerinnen und Musikern zusammensetzt, absolvierte ihren Part nicht als Pflichtübung, sondern spiegelte Händels Wärme und Anteilnahme am Geschehen in pointierten Rhythmen und weichem Melodiefluss. Die Solisten sorgten für Momente von großer Oper - ganz ohne Requisiten, allein durch die Farbe der Tongebung.

Vom jungen Countertenor Daniel Lager wird sicherlich noch viel zu hören sein - eine Stimme mit Zukunft. Christina Müskens vereinigt in ihrem Sopran Lieblichkeit und Klarheit. Wolfgang Thesing (Tenor) zieht ebenso schöne Melodiebögen wie er Koloraturen aufspringen lässt, und Will Dawes überzeugt als Solo-Bassist - wenn er nicht die Henley Choral Society leitet.

Monday 1 June 2009

Monday Night....


I'm home!

The coach pulled into Henley Station at about 1845, and we were at Gillots at 1900, bang on schedule.

Will bounced us through a lively rehearsal of Mendelssohn and Parry, and it felt rather strange not having Ian and our coach waiting to whisk us off when we had finished.

What fun the whole jaunt was. More reflections and photos to follow no doubt, but in the meantime thanks to all for making such a memorable weekend.

Your blogger.....

Back to Blighty

Good afternoon.

Apologies for radio silence, but connecting while travelling was proving difficult.

We are back in blighty. An emotional farewell with a flag-waving send off in Leichlingen, memories of a triumphant Hallelujah chorus and extremely convivial party still ringing our ears.

Lots of excited commitments of a rematch in Henley in 2011, and we pulled way from Leichlingen at 0915 - just 15 mins behind schedule. Not bad. The only slight downer was our bus which fell pray to trophy hunters, removing the registration plate from the front of the bus. Fingers crossed that we don't fall prey to the Belgian police who Ian fears could make our life awkward.

A swift comfortable run got us to a service station just beyond Brussels where the chairman and HKPM Dawes ate and burger lunch containing a combined 1800 calories.....! Then briefly through France ( having, I'm pleased to report, escaped the Belgian police)

On the ferry at 1500, and off at Dover at 1600 UK time. Almost home. M25 allowing Henley station at about 1830.

Chris

The Top Brass.....


....relaxing after proceedings in a small, self congratulatory moment!

Sunday 31 May 2009

Job Done, Tired And Emotional



What a great concert! Wonderful singing, a festliches spirit and a hugely appreciative audience. More reaction and comment to follow, but in the meantime suffice to say it was well worth it. many highlights - a rousing Hallelujah, and fantastic tempo in Surely and Will's "behold I tell you a mystery" was spine-tingling.

A lovely reception afterwards, speeches and wonderful food including vats of wurst and salad and a gigantic bowl of Leichlingen-grown strawberries.

Happiest man of the moment, though is Ian, our driver, who has been craving sausages for our entire trip and finally had his wish granted tucking into the frankfurters with great gusto. Well deserved too, I'd say!


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Rehearsal Time: Concert -40 Mins

It's hot in here, and we're standing for the longest top and tale rehearsal known to man.

Standing? - man! A true marathon in store this afternoon and evening


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Herr Kapellmeister Dawes Pulls a Bird


It's true. Stop the presses.


None of these ladies, I should hastily add, but in fact a very loud canary in the Cafe Scholler in Cologne where we enjoyed kaffe and kuchen in earshot of the bells of the Dom.

After getting to know each other, the canary hung on Will's every note, and mimicking him perfectly and watching him intently.

In an uncharitable attempt to make a cheap joke, one of the on-lookers quipped "better tuning and more attentive than most of the sopranos in the choir".

That aside, he should be known as Dolittle Dawes from now on.

Yesterday's Highlight


It could be a Crowded House song - 'Three Cities in one day'.

Leichlingen, Cologne and Dusseldorf. And the greatest of these was Cologne. The Dom is truly awe-inspiring, and no picture can do it justice, but I tried.

How many shoes does a woman need?

One weekend away, four days, one concert. How many shoes does a girl need to bring? We had a sweep stake that our esteemed secretary would bring more individual shoes than there would be tenors in the concert.

We won.

Number of tenors - 13
Number of individual pairs of shoes - 20 (10 pairs).

10 pairs of shoes? Ye gods! That's a beer or two on the slate for later

So image our delight when we saw the following shop window in Dusseldorf last night. It had to be recorded.

If the average woman has 19 pairs of shoes, how many does Ms Ewan have?

After allowing the choir to park on its forecourt, rumour has it that Francis Piesse [along with Diana, sorely missed] has offered use of his warehouse for the purpose of storing her collection.

It's also rumoured that an application has been received by Henley Town Council to rename to estate the Imelda Marcos Business Park.

Saturday 30 May 2009

Bad Gags

At the Dusseldorf jazz festival........

Enjoying mojito and German sausage.

Will did enjoy his. I quote: " it's not the wurst sausage I've ever had"


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After the rehearsal: The Meter Long Sausage


Cologne: 4pm.


First: Will's comment on a warm rehearsal: "shaping up for a good gig" . Shaping up is appropriate after Will's masterful choir re-organisation. there are some more pictures on the choir's website


Things concerning the committee at this stage: is a DJ White or black? Is smoking a fire hazard?

Should we beseech goodwill toward or towards men?

I'm not sure one of the soloists will appreciate being mistakenly described by one of our fold as a transvestite rather than a counter-tenor!

Now in Cologne, a metre long sausage has been devoured . And the kolsch is flowing.

13 brave soles are following a tour guide and the new self styled finance minister aka Paul our treasurer. Constitutional amendment at the next AGM I think

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View from the Unterscmitte Appartments



Does that win a prize for the most uninteresting photo ever posted on a blog? You can see that that the sun is shining, though.

Not quite dropped off the face of the earth....

....but at some points its felt like it!

Grappling with the vagaries of getting an Internet connection meant radio silence after the blogging frenzy of the first part of the voyage yesterday.

After a smooth ferry crossing of 90 minutes (spent by your intrepid reported in Langham's brasserie for a tip-top champagne breakfast, along with a fair sized possy from the choral ranks) we boarded the bus, Ben P masterfully demonstrating the art of last minute timing by leaping aboard just as we were marshaled off the board by the men in hi-viz jackets.

And then how do describe the next 8 hrs on the coach?
red wine (for the naughty boys and girls on the back seat)
a highly contested game of trivial pursuit with the most amazing range of 1980s pop triv questions
melting Camembert and Stilton

oh, and did I mention the traffic - miles and miles of it all around the Brussels ring road throwing the kibosh at any of the intricate plans. Mr Blaker, I concede defeat!

planned arrival 1800, actual arrival 2000. Oh dear! Last minute scuffles to start the rehearsal as prompt as possible and much logistical malarkey to get the right bags to the right hotel...and we made it!

More on the rehearsal anon, other than to say that it never ceases to amaze me how you can get off the bus in a different country, surrounded by different people in a place you've never been to before, open up your copy and mouth and suddenly be united by the music. Great.


Not sure if any one went clubbing after the rehearsal (!) but chairman's award #2 must go to Alfie Hay for providing the Unterscmitterites with a life saving slap-up supper.

Now a sunny Saturday morning, and fruhstuck has been delivered to the hotel room. Herr Kapellmeister Dawes has surfaced, after a night of coping with someone snoring very loudly (sorry!) - and we're recharged and ready to play on day two....


PS Two questions to play with before the next blog....

1. How much does a taxi from Reading to Dover cost?
2. Name the choir member who, going on concert trip to perform the Messiah, bring a copy of Elijah instead?


PPS STOP PRESS - Great news: ts confirmed that soprano reinforcements are flying in today in the form of Fi Harding. Hooray!!

Friday 29 May 2009

We Are Quorate

We are......our wanderers have now joined us and all 37 are on the bus. Almost only 36 with the treasurer taking a long time to put his face on in the gents.

Now queueing by the boat, but not in the bus lane, strangely. Ian informs us that at check in they took one look at us all and decided we would need to be parked on the boat near a lift! Charming. Surely Herr Kapellmeister Dawes won't be that paralytic after a 90 minute crossing?






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White Cliffs Approaching

We must be near to Dover- Liz Osman has just put a CD of sailors' songs and sea shanties into her Walkman. Preparation for our nautical voyage.

Chairman's sense of humour failure #1: the society's secretary has just used his clipboard on which to paint her nails.

Just arrived in Dover- only two hours in advance of the ferry. Turn up the volume on the hornpipe, Liz


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Disaster Strikes

As we pulled away from Henley and headed up Remenham hill a pothole outside the Little Angel caused mayhem.

The entire tray of croissants landed upside down in the aisle of the coach. A quick blow and a rub down and they tasted fine, though.

Making good progress now- it's 8.12 and we are just passing junction 10 (Ashford) of the M3. Very little traffic. Ian, our driver, entertained us all with his introduction to the coach's facilities; seats that recline- an inch, and a light in the toilet only comes on when you move.

Sorry, it was the way he told it....

Good news is that Ben P has made contact will meet us at Dover and Herr Kapellmeister Dawes called from Victoria to confirm that he had woken up......

Oiled, machine and well springing to mind so far, but not necessarily in that order.

Will it last?



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Breakfast

First chairman's award to Sue Edwards who has handed round freshly baked croissants to us all.

The baker at Franco-Belge in Henley got in an two hours early to make sure they were fresh...I know where I'll be getting my bread from in future....and pasties.....and cakes....


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Departing.....

Well we are off ..... All accounted for with one exception but an executive decision had to be taken, so Ben, if you read this we'll have to see you at Dover


So 36 all present and correct and we left bang on time at 06.30. Vorsprung Durch Tecnik, as they say in Germany


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Thursday 28 May 2009

In The Post Office

Just remembered to get some euros, so standing in the queue at Reading post office. The glamour of the international music scene!!!


Geolocate this post.



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The countdown begins....

This time tomorrow we'll be winging our way along the auto-routes of northern France and Belgium - or stuck in some horrible traffic jam singing through 'Now is the month of maying" for 1,447th time.

Bags packed? -no
dress shirt ironed? -no

stil there's plenty of time for that.

We had a good rehearsal last night - Will's posture enhancing chairs definitely a go-er for the next episode of Dragon Den and the highlight was the comment about frightening German ladies.

Better finish my report on the IT and telecoms sector, or else I ain't going anywhere.....My leaving drinks start at 5pm. Will I be a good boy and just stay for a couple?......