November 26, 2007
I knew very little about the plan for the evening – other than it contained a fully staged performance of one of my favourite pieces of early opera – Purcell’s sublime Dido and Aeneas.
On arriving at the elegant Holywell Music Room, I was a little disconcerted to discover that it was to be performed by Oxford Girls’ Choir. My mind was filled with visions of school concerts and tuneless warbling. I could not have been more wrong.
The musical quality of the performance was exceptionally high. The choral moments had power and precision. There were the occasional slips in terms of the ensemble – but this was more to do with the fact that the conductor, Richard Vendome, was out of sight of the singers and so was not able to maintain the balance between the cast and the orchestra.
Oxford Baroque Players performed with period detail and enormous panache. They were alive to the nuances of the score and made an amazing range of sounds for a small ensemble.
The principal roles were taken by different individuals on each of the two performances and so I can only comment on those I saw. I have to say that Amy Webber as Dido has a vocal quality that extends far beyond her years and she was near perfect in her diction and control. Joe Littlewood, her Aeneas (who looked a little uncomfortable in his wig) grew in confidence and power as the evening progressed – again impressive for one of his age. The rest of the principals were strong and supported the leading players well.
Care had clearly been taken in terms of the presentation – with every member of the cast and orchestra being costumed. The staging was historically informed, though the Holywell Music Room is not ideal as a theatrical setting and I would perhaps have simplified matters somewhat. However it did not spoil the overall effect.
I shall certainly be looking out for future performances by OGC – they are clearly a talented group of young singers.
On arriving at the elegant Holywell Music Room, I was a little disconcerted to discover that it was to be performed by Oxford Girls’ Choir. My mind was filled with visions of school concerts and tuneless warbling. I could not have been more wrong.
The musical quality of the performance was exceptionally high. The choral moments had power and precision. There were the occasional slips in terms of the ensemble – but this was more to do with the fact that the conductor, Richard Vendome, was out of sight of the singers and so was not able to maintain the balance between the cast and the orchestra.
Oxford Baroque Players performed with period detail and enormous panache. They were alive to the nuances of the score and made an amazing range of sounds for a small ensemble.
The principal roles were taken by different individuals on each of the two performances and so I can only comment on those I saw. I have to say that Amy Webber as Dido has a vocal quality that extends far beyond her years and she was near perfect in her diction and control. Joe Littlewood, her Aeneas (who looked a little uncomfortable in his wig) grew in confidence and power as the evening progressed – again impressive for one of his age. The rest of the principals were strong and supported the leading players well.
Care had clearly been taken in terms of the presentation – with every member of the cast and orchestra being costumed. The staging was historically informed, though the Holywell Music Room is not ideal as a theatrical setting and I would perhaps have simplified matters somewhat. However it did not spoil the overall effect.
I shall certainly be looking out for future performances by OGC – they are clearly a talented group of young singers.