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There is an exciting season ahead for Lymington Choral Society which began as an Adult Education Class at Lymington Community Centre in 1961 but has since grown to a choir of around seventy members. Under their new conductor, professional tenor Michael Goldthorpe, they will expand the number of performances to three rather than two. Michael plans to build on the high standard reached under previous six musical directors, introducing challenging but enjoyable repertoire for the choir to sing and for local audiences to appreciate.
The choir is always looking for new members from the New Forest area of all ages especially younger people and tenors and basses. There is no audition – some sight-reading is helpful and there must be a commitment to regular attendance at rehearsals which are held on Wednesdays from 7.30-9.30pm in the Wellington Room at Lymington Community Centre. We have two sessions in the year, the first from September to December, culminating with the concert and the second from January to May when we have our second concert. The fee for each session is £30 plus £1 per copy for the hire of each music score.
In spite of very cold weather, we had a good audience for our Christmas concert. We performed Haydn's 'The Seasons' with three very talented soloists and a 31 piece orchestra which everyone, including the choir, seemed to enjoy.
2010-2011 was the choir's Golden Jubilee and in our concert on 14th May 2011 we performed a newly commissioned work by Christopher de Souza. Also included in this programme were the Songs from the Bavarian Highlands by Elgar and Cant de les Estrelles by Granados. On this occasion we sang in the United Reformed Church in Lymington and there were two concerts, one at 2.30pm and the other at 7.30pm.
Below is the review from the local paper.
Lymington Choral Society celebrates 50 Years
……..and what a celebration – with two performances including a piece especially written for the Society! It is doubtful that in 1961 Eric Winch, the then much respected warden of the Lymington Community Centre, who had the brainchild of a choir would have believed this possible. Lymington Choral Society started as an adult education class under Dennis Gilbert, Head of Music at Brockenhurst Grammar School: their first performance was Handel’s “Messiah”.
Successive Musical Directors have been Roy Heartfield also Director of Music at Brockenhurst and under the next in line, Noel Clarke, the choir broke new ground with an overseas trip to Vitre, France, which afterwards became Lymington’s twin town. Following his move to King’s School Canterbury the choir was directed by Rory Boyle who was Head of Music at Walhampton School. During his time the Society celebrated their Silver Jubilee and to mark this they sang Rory’s composition of “The Second Revelation to Thomas the Doubter”. Like all choirs, numbers have gone up and down but at that time they numbered over 100. He was succeeded for three seasons by Valerie Nunns (an excellent singer in her own right) and then by Peter Davies for 15 years. Peter held several senior posts in the education field and encouraged several local school choirs to share the platform as well as soloists. To the good fortune of Lymington audiences over the years the Society has brought many superb professional soloists including the famous counter-tenor James Bowman, as well as the accompaniment of the Bournemouth Sinfionetta in its hey day!
Today the Choir are fortunate to have Michael Goldthorpe as their Director who is a professional tenor, conductor, teacher, examiner, broadcaster and lecturer. It has been his vision to increase the numbers in the choir again, to introduce fresh repertoire, which is both enjoyable to sing and listen to and widen the scope of the performances: without doubt he did that for their Golden Jubilee! Given the choir is not auditioned and many do not read music they achieved amazing results with works (particularly the modern ones), which must have caused much trepidation early in their rehearsals. The sheer joy and sense of achievement gained from singing in such a choir came over to the enthusiastic audience and provided a wonderful concert.
In their usual tradition of encouraging young talent, Lymington Choral Society whilst catching their breath between some tremendous works, bravely gave the platform to a young Dutchman who is one to listen out for in the years to come - indeed he would give Nigel Kennedy a run for his money to some people’s ears! Mathieu van Bellen, who has won many awards including String Player of the Year 2008 at the Royal College of Music, made an early 18th century violin (he had been loaned) positively sing and the audience shout for more in his amazing rendition of J.S. Bach’s “Chaconne from the 2nd Partita in D minor” and a very spirited performance of Paganini Variations on a theme by Paissiello. However, the day belonged to the Lymington Choral Society who supported by their excellent accompanist, Ian Richardson on the piano welcomed us in the words of Elgar “come and dance” from his choral set of six scenes “From the Bavarian Highlands”. These most enjoyable pieces are very accessible and Michael encouraged the choir to use clear diction and good dynamics to bring out their local colour of joy and sadness which Elgar takes us through. In the Society’s Golden Jubilee commissioned work “Love and Unloved” from Songs of Lymington by Chris De Souza, Ian’s accompanying piano was joined by the very skilful organ playing of another young man – Benedict Lewis-Smith, latterly organ scholar of Queen’s College, Oxford. The deep resonating notes brought to life the words of Henry Doman’s poem “The Old Church Organ” which formed an essential part of Chris de Souza’s composition. (Henry Doman was apparently a Victorian Churchman of the district and minor poet). The impact overall was immense and left a lasting impression on the audience as well no doubt on the choir. The second half of the programme opened to a little heard (apparently only once in the 20th century) but delightful find in Cant de Les Estrelles Song of the Stars by Grandos again giving the audience an opportunity to hear more of Ian Richardson’s skills on the piano in this very Chopin-like piece. The choir completed their very good performance with Faure’s Cantique de Jean Racine and Franck’s Psalm 150. They should be well pleased as would Eric Winch!
For further details of Lymington Choral Society please contact the Secretary, Sheila Hammond, on 01425 614023 |
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