Royal Leamington Spa Bach Choir, A Requiem for Remembrance, All Saints’ Church, Leamington, Saturday 9 November, 2024.

In these pulverised times, the opportunity for moments of reflection and  contemplation are precious.  Such moments were offered by the flanks of members of the 76 voices of Royal Leamington Spa Bach Choir (RLSBC)  at their Requium for Remembrance concert which featured works by MacMillan, Laurin, Tavener and Fauré. Jim Bate, their new musical director is an astonishing new find.  Under his empathetic direction, RLSBC with an attentive very full house – “one of the bestselling concerts of all time” – treated their audience to one of those imaginatively programmed events featuring Alistair Kennedy’s solo violin  throughout James MacMillan’s Domine, non secundum peccata nostra, a fusion of sacred and secular themes with folk and modern music. Kennedy’s arpeggiando and pizzicato chords wound their way through the offerings from the soprano flank of the singers before the alto flank joined this healthy dialogue.  Once again RLSBC sets a very high bar and reaches it.

Organist, Colin Druce joined harpist Erica Sinclair to perform Rachel Lauren’s Fantasia for Organ and Harp Op. 52 - a first perfomance for Erica. What an innovative combination with the harp at times taking the initiative awaiting a response from the organ before Erica’s glissando flourishes bring the work to a close.

John Taverner’s Svyati depicts a Russian Orthodox funeral with the choir singing as the coffin is closed and leaves the church followed by the mourners. Cellist, Robert Kurnatowski joined the choir to represent the presbyter in his dialogue with the mourners. Excellent programme notes ask listeners to look out for very low notes, a typical feature of Russian Orthodox music. Those accomplished basses maintained that very low “E” for long periods. whilst singing four parts and their counterpart tenors, three parts.

Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem,  a vehicle for peace, provided the opportunity for reflection on the very same day the Berlin Wall fell in 1989. Full marks must go to Jim Bate for energising his flanks of singers in their beautiful delivery.  Credit, too, to RLSBC’s own Claire Knowles for her very pure delivery of Pie Jesu.  Well done RLSBC!