Pimm’s and strawberries in perfect Harmony

SUMMER SERENADE, at St George’s Church, Wash Common, on Sunday, July 9. Review by HELEN TUCK

St George’s was delighted to welcome back violinist Helen Page and accompanist Oliver Williams as guests of host choir Harmony at their annual summer concert.

Helen and Oliver began with the well-loved and warmly received Schwant/Andre Dream A Little Dream Of Me, continuing the theme with Schonberg’s I Dreamed A Dream. This was followed by the less well known Allegretto poco mosso from Franck’s Sonata in A Major for violin and piano. This soon had the audience spellbound with its haunting opening theme growing ever more dramatic and flamboyant before returning to the wistful opening motif. Harmony returned with a quartet of sacred pieces, including Deep River, recently voted most popular spiritual of all time! Helen, Oliver and choir then joined forces to end the first half with Telemann’s Psalm 17 Laudate Jehovam for violin, piano and SATB choir.

After Pimm’s and strawberries, the audience returned to Harmony’s ‘Faraway Islands’, visiting Japan ( Chilcott’s Furusato) and Jamaica, ending with a plaintive Hawaiian Aloha Oe.

There was then a change of mood as Helen and Oliver launched into Sherman’s I Wanna Be Like You. The delighted audience were unable to resist a little toe-tapping along, only to fall into a reverie as this was followed by the sublimely tender tone of Tchaikovsky’s Canzonetta from his Violin Concerto in D Major. Helen and Oliver ended with a much enjoyed and truly bravura performance of the ever popular Brahms Hungarian Dance No 5 (arr Joachim ) After a light-hearted dash of Gilbert and Sullivan from Keith Glenny and friends, Harmony’s High & Low section featured Morley’s madrigal Sing We And Chant It for upper voices , then in contrast , Auf , Singet und Trinket, a traditional German drinking song for bass and tenor. The full choir then re-assembled to sing Stanford’s glorious Beati Quorum Via.

The concert finale began with a lively rendition of Staines’ A Place In the Choir , for choir, piano and violin, by the end of which the audience were joining in the repeated chorus, and were suitably warmed up to stand and join in a final rousing God Save Our King.