Warwick and Kenilworth Choral Society, St Nicholas’s Church, Warwick, Saturday 16 November, 2024

Many in the audience on Saturday were prepared for chill conditions thanks to social media posts and the grapevine reporting  the failed boiler. Braving the chill, the 50 plus singers warmed to their task with an engaging delivery of Schubert’s Mass in G major – number 2 of his three short settings and now the best loved. Composed in little under a week,  the setting is scored for a small string orchestra and organ. Funds will not run to string orchestra; however, the Colin Druce skills  at the keyboard of the St Nicholas’s organ more than compensate for the absence of violins and cellos!

Soprano Abigail Baylis, one of four talented Royal Birmingham Conservatoire students hand-picked by Conductor, Laura Bailie led the way in the opening Kyrie before mezzo-soprano Hannah Morley joined her in the gorgeous Credo. Male voices of tenor, Joe Yates and bass, Matthew Pandya joined, too,  the latter having been involved a week earlier with Royal Leamington Spa Bach Choir’s concert. Sanctus with its adagio maestoso tempo is full of Hosannas,  the choir finding their best voice in these outburts of enthusaism.  Four tenors on the front row is fully justified by their contribution to these sorts of moments and to ensure the work ends in a whisper.

Musicologists declare Haydn’s Nelson Mass, otherwise known as a Mass for Troubled Times, as his “greatest single composition!” As the resident composer at the Eisenstadt Court, Haydn was required to produce a new mass each year. What better subject in the late years of the 1790’s than the exploits of Horatio Nelson in the build up to the Battle of the Nile in 1798?

Druce led a very bright start, soprano Baylis’ voice soared above the choir and tenor Yates sang a confident role in the Gloria. Soloists and the choir combined well in the Sanctus with the Hosannas sung with considerable energy and enthusiasm. As the work builds to a climax, the prevailing mood of jubilation continues.

Let’s hope that prevailing mood continues at the choir prepares for Handel’s Messiah on Tuesday 17 December.