Town Hall, Dingwall, Saturday 24 April 2004

WHEN THE myriad elements of a musical performance come together as one artistic entity, the way they did at Dingwall and District Choral Society‘s concert last concert, it produces wonderful and memorable results.

This was truly an outstanding concert in which soloists, choir, orchestra and conductor created the most beautiful sounds with superb control over tone, liquid flow of rhythms, and with a balance of forces which many professional performers have to search for all their lives.

Faure’s Requiem was sublime. It had an appealing simplicity and grace that allowed the music to emerge easily, and it was quite without any attempts to over-dramatise its many fine features. And that’s just as it should be. Faure would have given his approval.

George Gordon brought years of experience along with his rich baritone voice to his solo contribution, and the young Michael Lightbody. a pupil of Charleston Academy, Inverness, sang with extraordinary pitch accuracy, clear delivery, and musicianship. Both soloists added to the already established beauty of the choir’s well-prepared singing.

A performance of the Chacony in G minor by the strings of the Dingwall Choral Sinfonia, under their leader Robin Calvert, was wholly delightful.

Just as the packed audience, many of whom were able to enjoy the new and welcome comfortable seating, were thinking that nothing could add to the enjoyment of the evening, we heard a swinging performance of John Rutter’s Feel the Spirit, his arrangement of some of the best known Spirituals.

Here, the singing and the rich warm orchestral accompaniment were totally enveloping, and we were permitted to wallow in a dream world of musical bliss; I do not exaggerate. The overwhelming beauty of Deep River, brought unashamed tears to my eyes.

What a wonderful voice mezzo soprano Louise Innes has, and with her engaging personality, she bought more than a touch of class to this hugely entertainment music.

Throughout this concert, the choir, being the main source of all this enjoyment, were in great heart and voice, but the utmost and greatest praise must go to their musical director, Normal Bolton, the power and musical inspiration behind such a fine, varied, and entertaining evening.

There you are, not a single complaint, not a word of reprimand, not a concealed wry comment, and that’s because this was a concert of fine music making enjoyed by the whole audience who showed it by their uninhibited and enthusiastic applause and approbation.

© Arthur Brocklebank, 2004