 | | Micklegate Singers |
“Not your average carol concert” were the words that caught my eye in the programme as I waited within the magnificent surroundings of York Minster Quire. The idea of a Christmas themed choral recital so early on in the festive season admittedly filled me with a degree of apprehension, especially one that was promising to offer ‘slightly unusual Christmas music’ – after all, at such a traditional time of year how different can one make a Christmas concert? | "The breathtaking and emotionally charged melodies filled the Quire leaving me in little doubt that this evening was to be anything but amateur" | |
On Saturday 25th November the Micklegate Singers, under the expert direction of Nicholas Carter, performed ‘Nativitas’, a captivating composition of Christmas classics through the ages. As the singers filed into view I began to wonder what exactly this moderately sized group of amateur performers could possibly offer as they stood somewhat swamped by the setting. Such reservations however were quickly swept away by the commanding and majestic opening performance of Thomas de Victorias’ “Salve Regina”. The breathtaking and emotionally charged melodies filled the Quire leaving me in little doubt that this evening was to be anything but amateur. The acoustics of the venue continued to do justice to this magnificent performance as the haunting harmonies of Chilcott’s “Advent Antiphons” washed over the enthralled audience. As the first half of the performance reached a gutsy and ambitious climax in Obrecht’s intricate “Salve Regina” my only regret was that there were not more people present to experience such splendour. The second half took a contemporary turn in the form of “Birthday Sleep” by John Tavener, a spiritual and meditative glance at the true meaning of Christmas. The poetic lyrics were faultlessly articulated and professionally delivered, the prolonged silence from the audience at its conclusion speaking volumes. The enchantment continued with Morten Lauridsen’s “O Magnum Mysterium”, a serene and somewhat mystical piece lending itself well to the mythical setting. The evening’s performance reached a colourful climax as the group delivered the long awaited “Nativitas” by Jean Belmont. An upbeat and overtly festive offering paving the way for the singers to really unveil their talents as they charged through a wide array of vivid chords at an astonishing rate. The spine tingling “Lux Aurumque” by Eric Whitacre brought the evening to a spectacular close, the finely tuned harmonies emanating a glow reflected in the lasting smile I carried away that evening. Sara Beach | 
