April 18th
DURHAM CATHEDRAL
April 18th 2009 and the choir braved the M1 to migrate north to Durham. The cathedral is a magnificent building standing high over the town and its sheer size was awesome. We have had problems singing in large cathedrals before but we were totally overcome by the sound of the choir. As one person put it "the sound just swept down the nave and rushed out the door at the back".
The concert is being talked about in hushed terms as probably one of the best we have done. There is chemistry in the way choir responds to the environment and this was certainly the case in Durham. We were conducted by our Musical Director Haydn James and Annabel Thwaite accompanied. The audience were very appreciative and we ended with a standing ovation in the packed cathedral.
Our soloist was a change from normal , a solo violinist, what an impact he made. Bradley Creswick is the leader of the Northern Sinfonia based at the Sage, Gateshead and he played music ranging from the emotional Meditation from Thais to an extraordinary virtuoso performance of 'black mountain rag', which took him up and down the nave. Quite brilliant.
From the choir David Williams sang the solo part in 'Working Man', all the more apt because of the memorial in the cathedral to the miners of Durham.
The concert was in aid of Aquila Way, a very worthwhile Christian charity that provides help and support and accommodation for young people and familes who are homeless for a number of reasons.
It was a very good occasion and made all the travelling well worth while. I have no doubt we will be returning.
Mike Jarman LWMVC
