There is a small band of music enthusiasts offering and supporting choral, classical, pop and rock, not much folk. Most concerts takes place in the Cathedral, where else has better acoustics.
Knowing what on and where is task that would test the skills of any
Good Friday's musical performance was offered by the Bath Camerata, directed by Nigel Perrin and organ improvisations with Samuel Hudson. A packed Cathedral heard songs of the Easter season, sung to highest quality by a superb choir of two dozen singers.
Starting with some Part, through a specially commissioned work by MacMillan to Rossini and Tavener, every aspect of tone and harmony was faultless. Playing the Tavener in the Quire added interest to the hymn and singing the Williams at the West End completed a perfect evening of choral works.
Everyone at the Bath Camerata should be praised for their dedication and accomplishments.
A special set of recitals took place every lunchtimes in Holy Week at the far end of the cathedral, in the Lady Chapel. There were a welcome find and everyone involved show by congratulated for the quality of the players, choice of music and excellent reproduction.
Monday was a trio of flute, clarinet and piano playing Finzi, Bach and other sonatas. With poetry on Tuesday, Wednesday was a superb rendition on Mozart's clarinet quintet. Finishing the week with cello quintet playing Telemann, Part and some Bach. Each concert was seemed a perfect midday interlude from the hustle and bustle of sightseeing and shopping. Everyone seemed to enjoy the concerts, a great effort.
These concerts were slightly spoilt by their own success. Too many people tried to cram chairs into the small Lady Chapel (at the east of the Cathedral), it took the first movement for everyone to settle down to hear the wonderful music.
Ignoring a farcical ticketing fiasco, the concert was well attended and well worth the effort. It continues to astound an enthusiastic, but amateur ear, the quality and musicality, Wells Cathedral School choir and orchestra obtains.
Throughout an evening of Pergolesi, Part, Purcell, Palestrina there wasn't a single chord misplaced, beat dropped, or phrasing confused by musicians in their teens or younger; remarkable. Every piece of Easter related was played professionally by the youth orchestra, with the vibe and passion that shows the quality and skills of these players.
If there was a comment, more than a complaint, it was having teenagers sing the Stabat Mater. While the quality of the work could not have been bettered, There is a question of whether people so young can portray the sorrow of a mother seeing the agony of her Son. No matter how small, something slight was missing. As an exercise it worked.
Jonathan Vaugh - organ
Matthew Owens - director
With renovations taking place at the back of St Cuthbert Church, the sell-out crowd had to cram into every pew, seat and bench to enjoy a breathtaking performance of Bach's St Matthew Passion. Even the heavy rain couldn't put anybody off from hearing, what most believe, is one the greatest of choral works.
Beaumont singers and orchestra, conducted by Peter Kingston gave a remarkable rendition of the score. While there was a slight stuttering at the first few opening bars everything was forgotten as the retold the story of the Passion according to the gospel of St Matthew. There was an excellent programme with full translation and biographies of the soloists.
While writing this review and listening to the definitive recording of the Passion given by Nikolaus Harnoncourt, only shows the how close the soloists, choir, and musicians at St Cuthbert Church came to reaching the zenith and all should be congratulated.
Saving some pennies from the cost of nave seating (£25) opted for the Side Aisle (£7) as an experiment in listening pleasure. There seems to be a trick of waiting to the welcoming applause then making a dash from the nave to aisle sittings, daring the Cathedral's wardens to bounce the offenders.
Everyone's voice, were without exception, perfect. Based around the Holy Week and Easter psalms and hymns shone with the high acoustics of the Cathedral. Sopranos balances the depth of the baritones to produce music that fills every nook and craves of that splendid building.
Sitting on the right with a sideway glance of the soloists and choir started well, but interest does wane as the concert continues. Next time the Sixteen return to Wells, it time to try the back of the church
Cheddar Male Voice Choir. Fabienne Borget (soprano), Rick Bowers (conductor)
Programme includes a selection of items from the Male Voice Choral Repertoire, religious, spiritual, classical and operatic choruses, and modern sings from the shows.
Tickets : £12, £6 Starts at 7pm
Organ Recital - Greg Morris
free - Lunchtime Concert Series
Lunchtime in the Cathedral is not the quiet contemplative oasis to spiritual organ music an evening recital offers. Tourists, visitors and guides produce the same hustle and bustle as experienced outside from people sheltered as the first autumnal rains clouds drift over.
Once inside the Quire most of the chatter further reduced by all but the subdued passage. Greg Morris: Associate Organist followed his introduction by diving into a Bach's Prelude and Fugue (BWV 541?) that sparkled showing Mr Morris skills. He followed with a Triptique by Langlais (good, but not right for the occasion), Bach's Wasserflussen Babylon and finishing with Frank's Choral No3. It was the Frank that filled the Quire - a magnificent piece, superbly played.
Wells' organ dominates the space without over bearing the listener. It is worth an hour of anyone time experience music as composer intended.
Organ Recital - Margaret Phillips
Ticket £8 (Norman Andrew Memorial Recital)
Wells Cathedral Quire is the smaller church with a church at the East side behind the alter, accessed below the organ itself.
Prof. Phillips gave a brief introduction to the recital explaining the six pieces by Buxtehude, Mendelssohn, Parry, Forbes, and Langlais. The Buxtehude's Toccata was impressive, but paled compared to the following Mendelssohn's Sonata that shone against the ornate surrounding of the Quire's masonry. Forbes' modern, bright Haec Dies wasn't expected by the listening novice and pleasant example showing the capabilities of the organ and skilful interpretation by one the country's leading musician.
Three dozen managed to attend on the recital on a glorious September evening. Surprising few considering the quality and reputation of the organist; Dr Margaret Phillips: Professor of Organ at Royal College of Music and founder of the English Organ School and Museum. A comment on the lack of publicity considering the performance. It was well worth the moderate entrance fee.
Piano Recital by Lily Webster
St Cuthbert Church
A joy, it is that simple. Spending less than hour seated in the corner of the splendid St Cuthbert Church while the clarity of Beethoven, Messiaen, and Ravel played, all be it to an untrained ear, beautifully. It was perfect introduction to the St Cuthbert 2007 Music Festival.
Lily Webster, who spent time at Wells Cathedral School, understands and showed her clear, youthful, engaging spirit through Beethoven's Sonata No21 well known and much appreciated piece. Another introduction was Messiaen's Prelude, Cloches d'angoisse et larmes d'adiue (Bells of anguish and tears of farewell). From the quality of the playing, worth further investigation. Concluding with the technically difficult and challenging Ravel's Minuet and Toccata, that completed a perfect lunchtime recital. Lily Webster.
Thank you to the lady who spent the Beethoven organising her handbag, not so much loud, more inconsiderate. St Cuthbert Church
