The Helen Medlock Ensemble and Ely Choral Society gave a splendid concert on March 16 at St Mary’s Church, in aid of Ely Foodbank.
The string orchestra was a magnificent group, gelling particularly well to produce a wonderful, sonorous, string sound that presented a variety of styles, sounds and nuances.
The performance included works by Holst, Elgar, Tchaikovsky, Parsons, Handel, Mozart, Albinoni, Purcell and Shostakovich.
With the orchestral pieces, each item was introduced by members of the group. One of the most interesting pieces of information given was the fact that it was unlikely Albinoni had written his very popular Adagio for Strings that we all know and love. It was probably written by his biographer: Remo Giazotto.
In this piece, the orchestra demonstrated that even with constant repetition of phrases, these excellent musicians played each note with care, maintaining interest.
The organ ground bass – organ and the plucked low strings: ’cellos and double bass, were indeed a firm, attractive bass to the many fascinating variations of the well-known melody above.
The concert opened with an exciting jig and the more measured Intermezzo, from the St Paul’s Suite by Holst. The suite was dedicated to St. Paul’s Girls School where he had been the Music Master and the way in which each instrumental line had an important part to play within the piece would have kept the students’ interest as it did with the audience.
The jig was a lively, top-tapping wake up call and in the Intermezzo, there were moments of beautiful phrasing. The expertise of the instrumentalists brought forward the predominant melodical material clearly.
Elgar’s Serenade for Strings exhibited Elgar’s cheerful, walk in the country charm. His affinity for the violin was apparent and his unique style was quintessentially English and filled the imaginations with the lush green, clean-air of the countryside.
Every moment of lyrical beauty and shared melodic material were enhanced by these performers’ undoubted skill.
Tchaikovsky’s Andante Cantabile, slightly more melancholic in parts, was very moving and included a gentle, loving folk tune from Ukraine.
Ely Choral Society’s smaller choir held no fear about breaking out into five parts in Parson’s ‘Ave Maria’ and did so very well. Their Zadok the Priest was particularly well disciplined and effective, even though they were using their ‘small’ choir of 30.
The string accompaniment added aplomb to the performance. Their performance of Purcell’s O God Thou are my God was interestingly based on the well-known hymn Christ is made the sure foundation and was joined by solo cellist, Joshua Lynch. Elgar’s How Calmly the Evening was indeed calm, peaceful assured and charming, as was to be expected.
Some of the highlights for the orchestra included a robust performance movement of Mozart’ s Eine Kleine Nacht Musik. Although a work that is regularly repeated in our lives, this orchestra infused life and light into the work.
The final work by Shostakovich certainly was frenetic and it was easy to picture the madcap house party it predicted.
The encore based on the well-known tune ‘La Mer’ went with swing and was much appreciated by the enthusiastic audience.
The next fundraising concert by the Medlock Sinfonia will be on September the 14th, 7.30 p.m. in Histon Baptist Church, in aid of Camtrust.
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