Newbury opera company's Christmas mix was 'just what we needed'
Kennet Opera’s Christmas Mix at Arlington Arts, Snelsmore, Wednesday, December 15. Review by LIN WILKINSON
As Omicron rampaged around the country, Kennet Opera staged a feelgood evening that reminded us what Christmas is all about.
The programme was a mix of choral and solo pieces, with the first half devoted to some of the best-loved sections from Handel’s oratorio Messiah, an all-time Christmas favourite.
Kennet Opera’s strength is in its ensemble choral work, the company singing with expression, commitment and pleasing harmonies. Messiah is renowned for the major role the chorus has and they relished the joyous crescendos in For Unto Us a Child is Born; enjoyed the strong choral passages in Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs; and sang As We, Like Sheep, Have Gone Astray with pleasing ornamentation and colour. There was a rousing Hallelujah Chorus, and the final Amen saw an appealing blend of voices and vocal ranges.
Among the soloists, tenor Robert Felstead (more of him later…), with his accurate intonation, opened the programme, and soprano Rosy Robinson sang with warmth, light and shade on the moving I Know That My Redeemer Liveth.
The second half turned into a party, with the company in festive jumpers, Santa hats and tinsel, delivering a mix of carols, Christmas music and readings. Offerings included a sweetly sung Mille Cherubini in Coro from tenor Ant Goffart; James Mitchell (bass) sang a Tyrolean carol, Stille, Stille, Stille; and the chorus brought out the plaintive harmonies of the Coventry Carol.
Full marks – and an ovation ̶ went to Felstead, who continued to sing O, Holy Night, unaccompanied and unfazed, when the electric piano briefly stopped functioning. He was knighted immediately afterwards by master of ceremonies Don Crerar, who brought the evening to a close with a seasonal reading, in dialect, from Hardy’s Under the Greenwood Tree, followed – of course – by a stirring O Come, All Ye Faithful.
Music director was Steve Bowey, and Kennet Opera’s pianist, Oliver Williams, was, as ever, a spirited, sensitive and thoughtful accompanist.
Although the evening was sparsely attended, due no doubt to Covid fears, the company sang with zest and enthusiasm, and gave us a cheering evening. It was just what we needed.
