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Our Jubilee Year In 2007, the choir celebrated its 50th anniversary with a programme of popular large-scale works. In the run-up to Easter, we again joined forces with the Ipswich Bach Choir for two performances of the Verdi Requiem, and in the Summer the choir made its first visit to Chelmsford Cathedral where the programme included the Brahms Requiem and Mendelsohn's Piano Concerto No.1. Our Christmas Carol Concert concluded a memorable year of celebrations marking this anniversary. 2007 saw another anniversary, namely the 20th year of the exchange visits with Evangelische Singgemeinde in Weinheim, Germany. These tri-annual shared concerts and associated social events have added a new dimension to the life of the choir. In 2007 we had our seventh exchange at which the programme was Beethoven's Mass in C and Christ on the Mt. of Olives. Over 50 years the Society has grown progressively under the leadership of seven Music Directors and has won some glowing press tributes: 1969-1977. Conductor Tom Langley "...communicated awe and wonder with which the music is concerned" Mozart Requiem, Essex County Standard, May 1971. "...a performance that tugged at the heart strings of the sell-out audience." Recorded concert for H.M. Queen's Silver Jubilee presentation disc. Braintree and Witham Times, May 1977. 1977-1984. Conductor George Jones "...a compelling, arresting and thrilling performance." Walton, Belshazzars Feast. Braintree and Witham Times, April 1984. 1984-1995. Conductor Bryan Barnes "...a glowingly beautiful sound brought the performance to a conclusion." Durufle Requiem. Essex County Standard, November 1989. "...exemplary musicality, vocal delicacy and sensitive empathy." Weinheimer Nachrichten, October 1991. 1995-Present. Conductor Patrick McCarthy "...choir captured cheerful nature with rhythmic vitality." Hayden Te Deum. Essex County Standard, November 2002. "...this tremendous performance did Elgar proud." Elgar Caractacus, The Elgar Society, March 2005. ...the choir was truly magnificent." Elgar Dream of Gerontius, East Anglian Daily Times, April 2006. Please see our future programme here for further details of our 2007 concerts. |