Christmas Concert 14 December 2001, in the Assembly Hall, Worthing.

Review published in the West Sussex Gazette 27 December 2001 and Worthing Herald 28 December 2001:

A Fanfare for Christmas - surely an apt title for the traditional grand opening of the festive season, given by Worthing Philharmonic Choir in the Assembly Hall on Dec. 14th. The Concert began majestically with a veritable Fanfare from Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610, the Choir being accompanied by Cathedral Brass from Canterbury. This Quintet (now called Jubilate Brass – in time for next year’s Golden Jubilee?) was to entertain us later on in the programme with a variety of pieces ancient and modern, performed with its own inimitable panache and expertise.

The evening’s guest soloist, Fiona Campbell from Australia, also delighted us with two sets of unusual Christmas songs.

Arguably the most interesting and exciting part of the Concert was an adaptation by the Choir’s Chairman, Rosemary Panchen, of the popular “Capriol Suite” by Peter Warlock, arranged with Rosemary’s customary flair for the Choir with words she based on the Scriptures. This is a work which surely deserves to be widely performed! The Piano Duet accompaniment was stylishly provided by a senior Choir member, Iris Payne, and the Choir’s regular accompanist, Marilyn Dennis, who also provided sensitive organ and piano backing throughout the evening.

The Concert concluded with two blockbuster songs – the well-loved Christmas Song (Chestnuts roasting on an open fire…) and the now familiar “O Holy Night”, beautifully performed by Fiona, the Choir, Brass and Piano, conducted by Donovan Brown, who brought the evening to a rousing conclusion

A donation was made to the Chestnut Tree House Charity from the proceeds of the Concert.

James Hurdwell.

Fiona Campbell

Summer Concert: Petite Messe Solennelle by Rossini, performed in St. Mary de Haura Church, Shoreham by Sea, on 9 June 2001.

Soloists (from left) Christine Fairs (Soprano), Charles Wood (Tenor), John Polwin (Baritone) and Jane Money (Alto), with conductor Donovan Brown (centre).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Review published in the Shoreham Herald 21 June 2001:

As part of the Adur Festival, Worthing Philharmonic Choir gave a sparkling performance to the comparatively rarely heard “Petite Messe Solennelle”, a work that proved to be neither small nor solemn!

Composed in 1864, it displays elements of the composer’s earlier operatic successes, with moments of high drama interspersed with lyricism, religious fervour, tenderness, classical Fugues which positively danced along merrily, and even elements of Victorian parlour entertainment, almost in later Music-Hall style! 

Unusually for a Mass, the only instrumental accompaniment was composed for piano and harmonium.  The latter instrument was provided for this occasion by the organist Charles MacDonald, who gave an eloquent performance, particularly the “Prelude Religieux” –meant to be played during the Offertory section of the Mass.

Terence Allbright, a local musician of international renown, brilliantly executed the piano.

The four soloists were Christine Fairs (Soprano), Jane Money (Contralto), Charles Wood (Tenor) and John Polwin (Bass), who clearly relished their respective roles and delighted the large audience at the lovely church of St. Mary de Haura.

The Conductor for the evening was the Choir’s own Musical Director, Donovan Brown, who demonstrably inspired all four soloists, both instrumentalists and of course the Choir itself, in a work which surely deserves to be performed more extensively.

Review by Jim Hurdwell

In Memoriam - Charles Macdonald

Brighton Festival Puccini and Verdi Opera Gala Concert, St Bartholomew's Church, Brighton, held on 26 May 2001.

Click on picture to see more detail

From a note to the choir from conductor Mark Andrew-James...

...Just a quick note to thank you for singing so wonderfully at our Brighton Festival Concert last Saturday. I felt that the sound the choir produced was one of the best I have ever heard, it was a good ensemble, a real solid and confident sound, you can all be mighty proud! I must also put on record my sincerest thanks to Donovan, who works wonders with you in preparation: his work with you seems to pay off more and more. I felt that the audience was most receptive and appreciative and reacted well to the choruses you sang both with such gusto and sensitivity. I would like to invite you all once again to take part in our concert next year, which will be May 25th, again in St Barts...So thank you all again, it was great to see and work with you all and I look forward to the next time!

Handel's Messiah: Good Friday April 13, 2001

Some photographs:

Donovan Brown: Conductor

and Harry Nicoll (Tenor) in rehearsal

Click on the photo above to see more detail.

Left: Donovan Brown, with soloists Jacquelyn Fugelle, Soprano; Rebecca de Pont Davies, Alto; Harry Nicoll, Tenor; Richard Mosley-Evans, Bass

The Maestro !

We are delighted to include this pencil drawing which captures the exciting concert atmosphere. It was sketched at the concert by Len Hall, a long-standing member of the Choir.

Click on the picture to see more detail.

 

 

 

Messiah Concert Review (published in the Worthing Advertiser 2 May 2001)

There was an audience of more than 650 at the Assembly Hall, Worthing, for the return of the traditional Good Friday performance of Messiah presented by Worthing Philharmonic Choir. The attraction to Handel's masterpiece was well founded by a performance of artistic integrity fashioned and conducted by the Choir's Choral Director, Donovan Brown. Ably complemented by a 26-strong Chamber Ensemble drawn from the Sussex Symphony Orchestra and skillfully led by Richard Sutcliffe, there were refreshing variations in tempi and dynamics in Mr Brown's interpretation of the work making for many of the familiar choruses to assume a lilt and delicacy rarely heard.

The use of the Watkins Shaw music edition was particularly significant in the buoyant 12/8 rhythm adopted for the aria "Rejoice Greatly", sung with scintillating aplomb by international soprano Jacquelyn Fugelle. Each of the three other soloists made significant contributions. Baritone Richard Mosely-Evans impressed with fine resonant singing in all his arias, while Rebecca de Pont Davies, making a welcome return after her Verdi Requiem appearance last year, projected rare authentic contralto tone, notably in the aria "He was Despised". The quartet was completed by the experienced operatic tenor Harry Nicoll making a Worthing debut of considerable note, using his relaxed legato tone and impeccable diction to great effect.

But it is Choir and Orchestra which remain the bedrock of all Choral concerts, no more so than on this occasion where under Donovan Brown's innovative direction the Chamber Ensemble produced a warmth and deftness of playing which so naturally allowed the Choir to project the well-known choruses with unforced singing and refreshing clarity.

By any standards this was a performance to savour and Worthing Philharmonic Choir can be justly proud of adding this success to their achievements.

Shane Jones

And from a letter written to Donovan Brown ... (with thanks to the writer, Mrs S. Gubbins)

...I just wanted to let you know how very much I enjoyed the rendering of Handel's Messiah last Good Friday. It was superb - so sensitively sung, accompanied by a very gifted orchestra under your directorship. Outstanding among the soloists (though all were good) was the soprano Jacquelyn Fugelle. Such seemingly effortless singing but such a beautiful voice. The response of the singers, as well as that of the orchestra to your baton, was amazing. There was an absence of screeching and I warmed to the expression. The write up in the Advertiser (May 2) puts my feelings into words. I congratulate you. Many of my friends I saw there and they too appreciated a great evening. What a thrill to stand for the "Hallelujah Chorus". The highest praise we can give this side of heaven. I send my thanks to you and everyone involved for all the hours of hard work put in so that others had such an enjoyable evening...