The Canberra Handel Choir
Date: 20 May 2006 15:25:40
Kristus är uppstånden!
[last entry: correct Pants!: Georgian: ქრისტე აღსდგა! (Kriste aghsdga!); response: ჭეშმარიტად აღსდგა! (Cheshmaritad aghsdga!)]
Congratulations to Singing Semele and boyfriend, choir and music directors respectively, and in fact to all of the talented, very talented, people involved within The Canberra Handel Choir: the debut performance was spectacular. Well worth the drive down to and back from Canberra.
Pre-concert I had a quick, very quick, and delicious, Vietnamese dinner with Semele, boyfriend and one of the basses. We got there at 6, promised we'd be out by 6:30 (we made no booking and they were busy): and we were. During the concert interval drinks and snacks were on offer: including some extraordinarily delicious homemade cookies and muffins: yum! I didn't go hungry.
To the concert. A variety of works were performed from Semele, Hercules, Solomon and Judas Maccabaeus. I must confess, I tend to like pieces involving the timpani and trumpet as well as the stringed instruments and the choir: loud, dramatic pieces -- and there were a good few. From the Censer Curling Rise, a first-time piece for me, was probably my favourite: though each piece had me transported. Very fine voices by all in the choir, the soloists especially, and very fine musicians. Semele's wonderful voice was heard loud and clear in the duet part of Hercules' Crown with Festal Pomp the Day [another loud and brash piece I loved].
Rapturous applause, and I do mean rapturous, greeted the end of the loud and complex pieces, and the end (all too soon!) of the concert. I overheard people discussing the concert, and all had nothing but great things to say. It was an absolutely wondrous evening.
And well done on the programmes [available in five colours!: I took yellow] as well Semele. A great deal of information on Handel and wonderful information on the works as a whole, and where each of the pieces played fitted in. I'm certainly much better informed.
Again, congratulations Semele!: and congratulations and well done to all. The Canberra Handel Choir has certainly arrived. I do hope a second concert is forthcoming soon.