THE Aberdeen Bach Choir’s popular Christmas concerts have been evolving over the years to embrace a varied and imaginative repertoire.
Last night’s thought-provoking sellout concert at St Machar’s Cathedral, A Spotless Rose, took it a stage further with a fascinating and highly-rewarding programme of music and readings in celebration of the Blessed Virgin Mary and her place in the story of the nativity.
Texts from St Luke were creatively mixed with poetry by Brunini, G.K. Chesterton and Thomas Hardy, all beautifully read by John and Margaret Hearne and interspersed with appropriate music by, among others, Bruckner, Howells, Britten and Tavener.
Conducted by music director Peter Parfitt, the Bach Choir and the renowned organist John Challenger produced passionate performances of extremely complex works in a gentle and evocative atmosphere.
Roddy Phillips's Review in the Press and Journal of 5 December 2011