Waverley Singers

Memorable Passion from Waverleys

This review by Brenda Nevett was published after the concert in, we assume, the Farnham Herald

JS Bach’s St John Passion, performed in German on Good Friday by the Waverley Singers in St Andrew’s Garrison Church of Scotland in Aldershot, made a most fitting beginning to the Easter festival.

The work is a verbatim setting of the story of Christ’s crucifixion from St. John's gospel but included commentary from the people in the crowd choruses and reflection on events in the arias and traditional Lutheran chorales.

A key role is that of the Evangelist, or narrator, which holds the whole work together.

The choir performed extremely well, bringing good contrast to the crowd choruses and chorales.

Rapport and eye contact with their clear and supportive conductor Malcolm Hicks was exemplary. It resulted in excellent synchronisation of dramatic pauses and changes in dynamic.

The singing was secure and musical throughout. Perhaps they could have portrayed more aggression in such choruses as “Crucify him” and “If thou let this man go” and more mockery in “We salute thee, King of the Jews”. However, it is doubly difficult to achieve these effects in a foreign language!

A first-class team of soloists made this a most memorable occasion. Neil Mackenzie, as Evangelist, gave a faultless performance, achieving extreme tension, lyricism and pathos in turn as the story unfolded.

Particularly beautiful was his rendering of Peter weeping after the denial and the very quiet moment achieved, when he sang of Jesus giving up the ghost.

Brindley Sherratt was perfectly cast as Christus, having both the presence and gloriously rich bass voice which that part demands. With his air of quiet authority, tempered by humanity and obedience to the father's will, he was entirely convincing.

The tenor, Andrew Murgatroyd, as for the two previous soloists, had sung with the choir in the St Matthew Passion in 1997. It is very unsurprising that all three were invited to repeat their same roles in the St John.

Outstanding was the tenor aria, accompanied by viola da gamba, “Lord Jesus, ah!” Asaka Morikawa, viola da gamba, is a musician of exceptional quality and sensitivity.

She gave her most moving performance, both here and again in her accompaniment of the final alto aria, “It is finished”.

The soprano and also soloists, both newcomers to Waverly Singers, also did very well.

Carolyn Foulkes, soprano, sang with great clarity and her lovely bel canto qualities suited the part well. The alto, Jacqueline Fox, brought warmth and pathos to her last aria, blending beautifully with the viola da gamba.

Richard Stevens, bass, who replaced Christopher Foster at short notice, sang splendidly and must surely be a valuable new acquisition.

The Tilford Bach Orchestra, led by Peter Stevens, was up to its usual extremely high standard.

The continuo players achieved a perfect balance between being supportive but unobtrusive. There were some particularly poignant moments achieved by these players, including Evelyn Frank’s flute obligato in “I follow thee, also” and the strings’ dramatic rendering of the tearing of the temple veil and the shaking of the earth.

This was an inspiring and enjoyable evening.