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Concert Reviews

Mahler: Resurrection Symphony Concert Reviews

A selection of reviews from the highly successful Vivace Chorus performance of Mahler: Symphony No.2 & Bruckner: E minor Mass at Guildford Cathedral on the 11th November 2017. Robert Benjafield Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony is one of those works which, when sung and played with passion, is a truly visceral experience. […]

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All the world’s a stage – Concert Review

All the world’s a stage – or – No holds ‘Bard’ The Vivace chorus and The Brandenburg Sinfonia directed by Jeremy Backhouse joined forces with members of the Guildford Shakespeare Company to present an evening of Shakespearian delight at GLive on Saturday evening. The works of Shakespeare have influenced composers […]

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Handel: Dixit Dominus & Bach: Motet – Concert Review

****  London Evening Standard, 4th November 2016 St Peter’s, Eaton Square, an imposing neoclassical church in the heart of Belgravia, has been hosting chamber music concerts for ten years. With its bright, welcoming interior and generous acoustics it’s a delightful venue, just five minutes from Victoria, and one I wish […]

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Under the shadow of His wing – Concert Review

Falls the eventide Posted: 14 Nov 2014 @ 00:18 Roderic Dunnett hears a work of 16 pieces IN ACHIEVING its prime aural intention – to be performed in “a large space with a matching acoustic”, using antiphonal effects so as to “wrap the audience in the acoustic experience” – Jonathan […]

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Mass in B Minor – Concert Review

Bach’s Mass in B minor presents plenty of questions for those that research and perform this great work; such as why did Bach compile some of his greatest works and revise them (some more considerably than others) to set a complete Roman Catholic Mass when he worked within a Protestant-Lutheran […]

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Surrey Ad review of RAH Vivace Chorus concert

MEMORABLE PERFORMANCE OF REQUIEM FROM VIVACE Vivace Chorus Verdi’s Requiem – Royal Albert Hall – Rating: ***** The Verdi Requiem is much-loved and often performed and last Sunday the Vivace Chorus put together a memorable and moving performance at the Royal Albert Hall, singing to a near capacity audience. The concert, which […]

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Armed Man: A Mass for Peace – Concert Review

Jeremy Backhouse, conductor of the Guildford-based Vivace Chorus, never ceases to craft interesting programmes and last Saturday we were treated to the pairing of Haydn and Karl Jenkins in a choral concert at Guildford Cathedral. Haydn’s ‘Mass in Time of War’ is a work full of pride and positivity and […]

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Canticles and Candyfloss – Concert Review

St Peter & St Paul, Steeple Morden – 2004 Friends of SS Peter & Paul The concert by the Vasari Singers in the Parish Church on 20 November was greatly enjoyed by an appreciative audience. The first part of the programme, Canticles, as the title suggests presented more serious church music […]

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Best of British’ (Parry, Elgar, Vaughan Williams, Holst, Britten, Tavener, Dove, MacMillan, Pott) – Concert Review

St Martin in the Fields – 28th September 2004 Praise for this spectacular concert given by the choir “Take him, earth, for cherishing, in particular was really good, one of the best performances of it I’ve heard by an amateur choir.” Clare Stevens, Assistant Editor Classical Music Magazine. Best of British, […]

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Pizzetti ‘Requiem’ and Kodaly ‘Missa Brevis’ – Concert Review

Cheltenham Contemporary Concerts Festival – 9th December 2003 Gloucestershire Echo Singers provide uplifting experience The current season of Cheltenham Contemporary Concerts has been unusually varied. This time it was the turn of the Vasari Singers, an excellent chamber choir from London. Directed by Jeremy Backhouse, the singers performed a wonderful programme […]

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© Jeremy Backhouse