Heather Caddick - Soprano: David Brown – Tenor:
Michael Hickman – Bass Andrew Cantrill – Organist
This was our final concert with our conductor of ten years, Christopher Pratt.
30th November 2013 - Concert Review
South Nutfield Choral Society's Autumn concert
took place in front of a large audience in Christ Church, South
Nutfield.
Two works were performed: the motet "Jesu
Priceless Treasure" (“Jesu Meine Freude”) by J S Bach and the much loved
"Requiem" by Gabriel Fauré. The concert was conducted by
Christopher Pratt and accompanied on the organ by Andrew Cantrill.
The Bach motet in eleven sections is one of his
most demanding works and the choir gave a performance that clearly represented
a huge amount of work by an amateur group. There were some occasions when
insecurity showed but these did not detract from providing an enjoyable
performance which demonstrated great musical commitment and enthusiasm -
particularly in those sections which were variations on the Lutheran Chorale
"Jesu Meine Freude". A particularly impressive section occurred when
the two soprano parts duetted over a "walking bass" sung by the choir
gentlemen while a semichorus of altos and basses sang the chorale melody. Here
was some exquisite, sensitive singing!
In the Fauré Requiem the choir excelled itself.
It was joined by soloists Leah Perona-Wright (soprano) and Jamie Cordell
(baritone) who both gave moving performances. Jamie demonstrated
beautiful phrasing and a gentle but plangent tone particularly in the iconic
"Libera Me Domine". Leah's high, clear un-operatic tone was
ideally suited to the famous "Pie Jesu" and she also treated
the audience to the famous arrangement by Gounod of Bach's 1st keyboard prelude
set to the wonderful "Ave Maria" text.
The choir responded with a performance of
outstanding sensitivity. Its diction was uncluttered and precise. It's dynamic
range and attack were superb - on occasions almost frightening! The sopranos
truly became a "chorus angelorum" and the hushed audience
appreciation as the work finished was palpable. Andrew Cantrill
achieved a remarkable range of tone colour on the organ and supported the choir
superbly.

Audience reaction indicated that this was a
concert to remember and of which the choir and its conductor can be truly
proud.
11th May 2013 - In the Mood Review
The main piece was Flanders & Horovitz' "Captain
Noah and His Floating Zoo", a light-hearted, syncopated take on the story
of Noah's Ark, in which the Choir and some 'home-grown' soloists (notably Peter
Davies as God and Nick Case-Green as Noah) excelled themselves under the
enthusiastic direction of conductor Christopher Pratt. The Choir's
diction and, for want of a better word, 'togetherness', were all that we have
come to expect from this Society. The Choir were energetically
accompanied by Philippa Winstanley (piano), Conor Dunlea (bass guitar) and
Bradley Wool (drums).
Following this, we were treated to some familiar choruses by Gilbert &
Sullivan and a selection of 'standards' by such as Cole Porter and George
Gershwin. In particular the latter included Let's Do It and Smoke Gets In
Your Eyes, with a moving solo by Brenda Nash. All of these were sung with
great enthusiasm and conviction by the Choir. In addition, the choral
works were interspersed with some pieces for flute and piano, excellently
played by Richard Guise and Sylvia Ford, and some enthralling music for Irish Pipes by Maria Greenhalgh. All in all, another most
entertaining evening by South Nutfield's well-loved Choir.
8th December 2012 - Concert Review
South Nutfield Choral Society performed
Mendelssohn's Elijah on Saturday, 8th December, to a packed audience in Christ
Church, South Nutfield. The choir performed this epic work under the capable
direction of Christopher Pratt and it was clear that the long hours of
rehearsal had paid off. The choir responded well to the conductor and the
'cut-offs' at the end of each section were absolutely together - one of the
marks of a good choir. The dynamics, diction and phrasing could not be faulted.
The "Angels' Chorus" (often sung by soloists but on this occasion, admirably,
by all the sopranos and altos) and the full choruses "Be not afraid"
and "He that shall endure", together with the soloists' quartet towards
the end of the work, were especially memorable.
The solo parts were performed by Michael Hickman (Bass), Libby Egwuba (Soprano),
Felicity Smith (Mezzo Soprano) and David Brown (Tenor). The work demands a huge
amount from "Elijah" and Michael Hickman sang the role with wonderful
power and great dramatic conviction. He is, in my view, a young man destined to
go far. The other soloists supported the dramatic narrative with great musical sensitivity.
One must here mention David Brown's magical rendition of the short passage
describing an exhausted Elijah sleeping "under a juniper tree in the
wilderness".
The organ accompaniment was brilliantly played by Andrew Cantrill, proving that
such a work can be performed without the traditional full orchestra.
It was, all in all, a memorable concert, and all credit must go to Christopher
Pratt and his forces.
John Grainger.
3rd March 2012
Brahms German Requiem performed at St John the Baptist Church in Outwood. Money raised from this concert went towards badly needed renovation work at the church
3rd December 2011
Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897) - German Requiem (sung in English).

Accompianists - James Wood and Jamie Cordell
7th May 2011
Elgar - excerpts from Songs from the Bavarian Highlands.
Selection of Beatles songs, vocal arrangements by Bob Chilcott and solo voice and instrumental items.
This concert was accompanied by young musicians from St Bede's School Redhill.
4th December 2010
Gregorio
Allegri - Miserere
Benjamin Britten - Ceremony
of Carols with harp accompaniment. A selection of Advent and
Christmas music for choir and audience.
May 2010
John Rutter - Feel the Spirit (accompanied by musicians from St Bede's School
e's School)
4 Madrigals
Ernst Toch - Geographical Fugue
Solo items for voice & piano
Dec 2009
Joseph Haydn –
Missa Sancti Nicolai
Anton Bruckner –
Ave Maria
John Stainer – How
Beautiful upon the Mountains
Edvard Grieg – Ave
Maris Stella
Advent carols for
choir and audience
May 2009
Charles V. Stanford
- Three motetsClaudio Monteverdi
- Beatus Vir
John Rutter - Te
Deum
Solo or group
items for organ, flute and violin
Dec 2008
Louis Vierne –
Mass
Johannes Brahms –
How Lovely are thy Dwellings
Wolfgang A. Mozart
Ave Verum Corpus
Carols for choir
& audience
May 2008
George F. Handel -
Zadok the Priest, Let thy Hand be Strengthened
& My Heart is Inditing.
Bob Chilcott - A
Little Jazz Mass (accompanied by musicians from St Bede's School)
3 English Madrigals
Solo/group items
recorder, flute & piano

Dec 2007
Antonin Dvorak -
Mass in D
William Matthias -
2 movements from Ave Rex - a carol Sequence
Carols for choir
and audience
May 2007
Gabrielle Fauré
–
Requiem
Samuel Barber -
Agnus Dei
Peter Gritton - 3
Minute Messiah
Flanders &
Swann - Ill Wind
Solo vocal items
Dec 2006
Antonio Vivaldi -
Gloria in D
John Tavener - The
Lamb
Ralph Vaughan
Williams - Fantasia on Christmas Carols
Carols &
instrumental solo items
May 2006
George F. Handel -
Zadok the Priest & The King Shall Rejoice
Michael Tippett -
Five Negro Spirituals from A Child of Our Time
George Shearing -
Music to Hear
Solo/group items
Dec 2005
Wolfgang A. Mozart
- Requiem Mass in D Minor
April 2005
George F. Handel -
Messiah Parts II and III
Gabriel Faure -
Cantique de Jean Racine
Solo/group items
Dec 2004
George F. Handel -
Messiah Part 1
Donald Cashmore –
This Child Behold
Carols for Choir
& audience
© South Nutfield Choral Society 2015 - Charity Number
: 1168618