Past seasons: 2005-2006 Season

This year, for one year only, we elected to perform just two concerts instead of our usual four, concentrating on an interesting and challenging programme and aiming for an even higher than normal standard of performance. The two concerts were to be our Christmas Celebration on 17th December 2005 (see below) followed by a performance at St Alban’s Abbey on 13th May 2006 (also see below) of Rachmaninov’s The Bells and Finzi’s Intimations of Immortality. However, during the year, we were offered, in addition, the opportunity to join several other choirs in a concert on 2nd July to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of ENO Baylis (the education and outreach department of English National Opera). About 60 of our number therefore prepared for, and participated in, this concert on 2nd July - with a rehearsal the day before - on the stage of the London Coliseum. We performed several pieces including excerpts from Benjamin Britten’s Peter Grimes, Mozart’s The Voyagers Chorus from Idomenco, and Verdi’s Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves from Nabucco - all sung in English in accordance with ENO tradition. Harrow Choral Society will also had the opportunity to perform a piece just by ourselves, which was The Heavens Are Telling from Haydn’s Creation.

On 13th May we performed in what has become a tri-annual Three Choirs Concert involving Harrow Philharmonic Choir, Stanmore Choral Society and ourselves. This year it was Simon’s turn to be Music Director for the concert and to select the programme, which was Rachmaninov’s The Bells and Finzi’s Intimations of Immortality. The demands of the music and of the rehearsal schedule, particularly during the final few weeks, turned out to be highly challenging and somewhat nerve-racking (particularly for Simon who somehow had to prepare, encourage and sustain 3 choirs and a full orchestra!). However, on the day and in the glorious setting of St Albans Abbey it turned out to be a richly rewarding experience for all involved. We were particularly appreciative of the fine efforts of our soloists Ian Caley (tenor - and one of our vice-presidents), Jane Webster (soprano) and Jeremy White (bass), as well as the Trinity Orchestra who performed magnificently, as always. I think we are all now looking forward to a slightly less demanding summer!

The Christmas Celebration concert was held on 17th December at the very popular venue of the Speech Room at Harrow School and was, as usual, a sell-out. We were joined by the multi-award winning Brass 10 who delighted everyone with an extremely high standard of performance throughout and our guest reader was the actress Josephine Tewson, probably best known for her many comedy roles on television and who entertained us splendidly. The evening also turned out, according to numerous critics, to be one of the very best performances that the Choir has given in recent years, the highlight being our rendition of John Rutter’s Gloria. However, the whole wide-ranging programme of modern and traditional music, including a brilliant arrangement of Gaudete by Lorna K Dawson - the Harrow-based composer who is also a choir member - was performed to an exceptionally high standard.

Apart from the advantage of providing more time to rehearse this year’s challenging musical programme, the limit on the number of concerts has allowed us time to learn some additional short pieces which will add to our over-all repertoire. In addition, we will use any spare time that may exist to rehearse for the opening concert of 2006/2007 which will comprise Opera Choruses and is scheduled for 21st October 2006.

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