Warwick and Kenilworth Choral Society, 70th Anniversary Concert

What a celebration, a performance of Mendelssohn’s Elijah! Seventy years as a choir deserved a memorable occasion; Warwick and Kenilworth Choral Society’s 60 singers mustered the talents of four young aspiring soloists, eight members of the newly formed Elgar Singers, a fine ensemble mobilised by and excellently led by Alistair Kennedy, and the services of organist, Colin Druce. Goodness gracious, what a collection of remarkable expertise at Laura Bailie’s disposal, now established as musical director and conductor of this enterprising choir which successfully launched both Handel’s Messiah and Mendelssohn’s Elijah within a three month period!

Mendelssohn worked on his oratorio for a decade, conducting its first performance in Birmingham Town Hall in English in 1846 with resounding success.  The work is packed with drama, beautiful arias and rousing choruses, using extracts from 1 Kings and Psalms.

Matthew Nuttall (bass) singing Elijah is thoroughly convincing and captivating in the storytelling with beautiful delivery of the air which begins “It is enough, O Lord” accompanied by the most elegant and moving cello solo by Peter Adams (a frequent CBSO cello desk player). Chloe Peterson (oboe) accompanies Nuttall intelligently in a later air “For the mountains shall depart” a moment of considerable poignancy. She was a member of an excellent wind section complimenting the efforts of the very reliable brass section.

Deserving a very special mention is Joe Yates (tenor), a young man with a very bright future, currently in first year postgraduate studies at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (RBC). His distinctive delivery, his poise and his expressiveness were captivating, notably his Obadiah recitative with Elijah, “O Man of God, now let the words be precious”. His colleague at RBC, Abigail Baylis (soprano) sang with fine diction and voice projection in all three roles – widow, youth and second angel. Rhiain Taylor (mezzo-soprano) was at her very best as queen in the recitative and chorus when Elijah is challenged, “Have ye not heard he hath prophesied….”

Full marks must go to the choir; they battled well against what at times was near overpowering ensemble-playing. Their chorus singing as the priests of Baal was exceptional. The celebration was one to be justly proud of, well done!