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mmoa_writes at 10:13pm on 07/12/2008
mmoa_writes at 10:13pm on 07/12/2008I am an immensely satisfied soprano.
Last night was the choir's performance at Manchester Cathedral and thankfully, our rendition of Vivaldi's Gloria did not fall to pieces. It certainly wasn't our best performance of the piece and I'm sure we could do better, but it was good and made me very glad I joined the Choir and Orchestra Society. Listening to the orchestra, however, convinced me that it was best I didn't join the orchestra: imagine playing something so lovely, but not being able to hear it (Elgar's 'Enigma')? I can deal with that when it comes to singing, but somehow it would be worse if I was playing an instrument.
One thing I loved about the Gloria was the Alto solo in the 'agnus dei' movement. I'm sure I'm just incredibly ignorant about classical music, but why does it seem you don't that many alto solos? It trumps the over-stylised gymnastics of the sopranos any day. Or maybe it was just that the soloist was utterly amazing. Usually, alto voices don't carry so well in a space like a cathedral, but she was incredible. There was such power to it, it was like the true sound of a woman - it made us sopranos sound like cariacatures, almost.
The other pieces went very well, but being muchs horter, they seemed to be over quite quickly. 'Hymn to the Virgin', by Benjamin Britten is quite beautiful and Vittoria's 'O Magnum Mysterium' is a find I'm taking back to my 'mother' choir in London.
Manchester Cathedral is certainly quite interesting. There was something very business like about it - it seemed quite a small cathedral when you stepped inside, but then you wander around and realise how much space is taken up by vestries and libraries. It seems more a bishop's cathedral than a congregation's, if you know what I mean, especially when compared to the massive York and Durham, and of course, Southwark (I'm sure Canterbury would be impressive, only I've never been there...). In a way, it was a little reassuring - having been brought up behind the scenes, I'm more at home with the Church as a 'business' than as a spiritual institution. It probably explains why I'm not as hostile as I'm supposed to be towards it - a business is meant to have it's hypocrisies and general wankiness. If you want genuine spirituality, go and become a hermit...
But I digress.
In all, it was great. And this immensely satisfied soprano can now sing a G# properly...
Except when Gilbert and Sullivan insist on doing whole phrases with it. I mean, why? You can barely hear the words to that wretched note, even if the company is la creme de la creme...
Last night was the choir's performance at Manchester Cathedral and thankfully, our rendition of Vivaldi's Gloria did not fall to pieces. It certainly wasn't our best performance of the piece and I'm sure we could do better, but it was good and made me very glad I joined the Choir and Orchestra Society. Listening to the orchestra, however, convinced me that it was best I didn't join the orchestra: imagine playing something so lovely, but not being able to hear it (Elgar's 'Enigma')? I can deal with that when it comes to singing, but somehow it would be worse if I was playing an instrument.
One thing I loved about the Gloria was the Alto solo in the 'agnus dei' movement. I'm sure I'm just incredibly ignorant about classical music, but why does it seem you don't that many alto solos? It trumps the over-stylised gymnastics of the sopranos any day. Or maybe it was just that the soloist was utterly amazing. Usually, alto voices don't carry so well in a space like a cathedral, but she was incredible. There was such power to it, it was like the true sound of a woman - it made us sopranos sound like cariacatures, almost.
The other pieces went very well, but being muchs horter, they seemed to be over quite quickly. 'Hymn to the Virgin', by Benjamin Britten is quite beautiful and Vittoria's 'O Magnum Mysterium' is a find I'm taking back to my 'mother' choir in London.
Manchester Cathedral is certainly quite interesting. There was something very business like about it - it seemed quite a small cathedral when you stepped inside, but then you wander around and realise how much space is taken up by vestries and libraries. It seems more a bishop's cathedral than a congregation's, if you know what I mean, especially when compared to the massive York and Durham, and of course, Southwark (I'm sure Canterbury would be impressive, only I've never been there...). In a way, it was a little reassuring - having been brought up behind the scenes, I'm more at home with the Church as a 'business' than as a spiritual institution. It probably explains why I'm not as hostile as I'm supposed to be towards it - a business is meant to have it's hypocrisies and general wankiness. If you want genuine spirituality, go and become a hermit...
But I digress.
In all, it was great. And this immensely satisfied soprano can now sing a G# properly...
Except when Gilbert and Sullivan insist on doing whole phrases with it. I mean, why? You can barely hear the words to that wretched note, even if the company is la creme de la creme...
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