'A tremendously exciting choral experience' - 23.07.07

[Concert Review: Chichester Cathedral, Chichester Festivities] Graham Hewitt, Chichester Observer

The chamber choir Tenebrae’s aim to provide music with passion and precision was gloriously achieved in their Chichester Festivities concert.
In the candle-lit atmosphere, the dramatic singing of Sergei Rachmaniov’s Vespers beginning at the back of the Cathedral and slowly moving forward Tenebrae created a tremendously exciting choral experience.
With each verse of the Vespers beginning with a deep, rich deep bass solo introduction the choir produced an authentic Russian sound.
The dramatic musical exploitation of the Cathedral was further enhanced by the strategic positioning of the singers to provide maximum sound and visual impact.
With passionate intensity the singers drawn from the top choirs in the UK sang a gentle and haunting interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s carol When Jesus Christ was a child. It was the unaccompanied mixed choir’s breathtaking phrasing and well balanced harmonies which make Tenebrae such an exquisite and original group.
With effortless ease the Choir’s founder conductor, Nigel Short encouraged the singers to give absolute perfection in the sixteen items of their varied programme.
The audience were visibly moved by the quality of the performance and their prolonged applause was rewarded with an encore. The concert was a truly thrilling experience.