Highlight of the Week

Senior Summer Concert

After the outstanding success of our recent Springtime Serenade it was an absolute pleasure to be able to present another large-scale concert in the Cathedral, this time featuring our other major ensembles. With limited rehearsals available, and the challenging impact of exam leave, the scale and quality of performances achieved was particularly impressive, with some outstanding moments; the programme underlined widespread participation in music, both singing and playing, affirming the great satisfaction taken at CSL in producing music of the highest standard

Sinfonia, our second orchestra, opened the concert with two contrasted pieces: Celtic Air and Dance (Sweeney) and Smoke on the Water (Deep Purple), achieving a balance of traditional and modern styles whilst giving every player plenty to enjoy. This term we have been delighted to welcome a number of new players to Sinfonia, further enriching the sound.

Senior Flute Choir played an arrangement of Eleanor Rigby, showing great ensemble unity throughout. Year 13 String Quartet (Sarah K, Kimberli C-D, Lucy T, Katie A) made its first public appearance this year with an interesting pastiche, McMozart’s Eine Kleine Bricht Moonlight Night Musick. This led to a delightfully refined and professionally delivered Cello Duet, Sonata for Two Cellos in G (Barriere), featuring Sasha R and Ms Blackman. Cello Ensemble responded with an exquisite arrangement of Elgar’s Nimrod, the rich sonority of the combined cellos helping to intensify the inherent poignance of the melodic contours and emotive harmony.

Brass Ensemble was in typically vibrant form, offering two contrasted pieces: Dixie-Land styled, Down Georgia Way (McKenzie); and ABBA’s immortal, Thank You for the Music. Completing the first-half, Cathedral Strings took to the stage with a transcription of the beautifully nostalgic piano miniature, I Giorni (Einaudi), leading to the carefree irony of Eric Idle’s Always Look on Bright Side of Life, involving comic audience participation (whistled interjections!)

Following a short interval, the audience was stunned with a carefully polished rendering of Bach’s Esurientes, featuring Owen H’s magnificent treble voice accompanied by Baroque chamber ensemble (Sasha R, Emily H and Katyayani R). Three of our Year 13 exam leavers then presented a sequence of farewell solo performances, marking the culmination of their outstanding period of musical involvement at the School. Sarah K sang In Uomini, In Soldati, from Cosi Fan Tutte (Mozart); Katie played a cello transcription of Fauré’s impassioned, Après un rêve; concluding with Cathy R singing O Mio Babbino (Puccini). All three solos were deeply impressive and a privilege to witness.

The Summer Concert concluded with three impressive contributions from Senior Chamber Choir: All Will Be Well (Will Todd); Field of Gold (Sting); and a delicious, three-part arrangement of Scarborough Fair. All three pieces were beautifully delivered, leading to a final encore item: What About Us (Pink) – a contemporary pop favourite, giving a chance for Chamber Choir to sing from the heart and with unreserved vocal energy. Enormous thanks to all those who helped to make the concert so memorable and successful.