Although Froxfield was invited to sing African Sanctus as a Guest Choir in 2013, it is a number of years since we sang as part of the Festival Chorus in the Petersfield Musical Festival. This year was a new departure for many of us, as we shared in the fun of making music with other local societies in the lovely purpose-built Festival Hall in Petersfield. And what an exciting occasion it was! The programme, Orff’s Carmina Burana, preceded by Lambert’s Rio Grande was fun from start to finish. The Lambert, particularly, was difficult, and new to most of us, but with our conductor Richard’s help, we cracked it and were able to relax sufficiently to enjoy the spectacle of no fewer than six percussionists doing their stuff below us in the orchestra. We watched amazed as three pairs of timpani, tubular bells, glockenspiels and Turkish Crashes (?!) accompanied us, to say nothing of two grand pianos placed end to end. It was very rewarding to sing to a capacity audience, and Paul Spicer’s smile as he brought the last long sustained chord off said it all!
The concert also included Saint-Saens’ Danse Macabre and Shostakovich’s Concertino for two pianos, performed by virtuoso pianists Mark Dancer and Emilie Capulet – a tour de force and a real treat for all.
Marcia Fielden, soprano.
