Spring concert rules the waves

Oldham Choral Society

Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester


Oldham Choral Society and the East Lancs Sinfonia excelled in a spring concert, “Behold the Sea” at the RNCM.s

From the jaunty “Jack the Lad Hornpipe” to the serene “Where Corals Lie”, the audience was taken on a cruise across oceans of words and music depicting our love of all things nautical.

The East Lancs Sinfonia and guest soloist Kathleen Wilkinson captured Elgar’s “Sea Pictures” in evocative sound and fury. Henry Wood’s “British Sea Songs” featured the Choral Society’s 78 women greeting the return of the ships while the 43 men gave gentle voice from the stalls with “Hum Sweet Hum”.

The second half was dedicated to Ralph Vaughan Williams - and was a triumph of a well-rehearsed choir. Soloists Linda Richardson and Dean Robinson and the ensemble combined in Vaughan Williams’ great “Sea Symphony”, an explosion of vibrancy that painted a musical picture of the changing moods of the sea.

The energy of orchestra conductor and choir leader Nigel P Wilkinson pulled the concert together, his energetic baton weaving the strands of the performances together in seamless delight.

Nigel invited the audience to join in at appropriate moments, included speedy clapping to the hornpipe and a rousing “Rule Britannia”.

The society’s next concert is a Gilbert and Sullivan Gala on May 31 at Middleton Arena.

SF