Diocesan Centenary Concert

Saturday 28 October 2017

centenary concertDavid Worsfold introduced the orchestra and choir and greeted the large and very appreciative audience which included the Lord Lieutenant of Essex, Mrs Jennifer Tolhurst and her husband Philip, who is chairman of the Brentwood Diocesan Cathedral and Choral Trust. Also present were the Mayor of Brentwood, Councillor William Russell, and Mgr Canon Kevin Hale, Vicar General of the Diocese, who was representing the Bishop of Brentwood.

centenary concertAndrew Wight centenary concertStephen King centenary concertJonathan Schranz
centenary concert

Sam Lewis

centenary concert

Darren Moore

The programme opened with a lively performance of Vivaldi’s Double Trumpet Concerto. Sam Lewis and Darren Moore performed with aplomb and were sensitively accompanied by the ELMS Chamber Orchestra, regular performers at Cathedral concerts, all skilfully marshalled under the baton of Andrew Wright.

centenary concertJulia Wilson-James and Chlöe Treharne

The choir and orchestra were joined by soloists Julia Wilson-James and Chlöe Treharne for an exhilarating performance of Vivaldi’s Gloria. Conductor Jonathan Schranz carefully blended the more reflective moments with the lively choral passages which brought out the best in the large choir.centenary concert

Jonathan Schranz also took charge for Schubert’s Mass in G in its full orchestral version

centenary concertJoshua Chapman centenary concertMichael Bradley

This powerful performance in which Joshua Chapman (Bass) and Michael Bradley (Tenor) joined forces with Julia and Chlöe, filled the Cathedral with sound, pausing for the gentle trio in the Benedictus, before the choir brought the work to a hushed close with the words Dona nobis pacem. English composers were represented in the programme in two works conducted by Andrew Wright, Diocesan Director of Musiccentenary concertElgar was a Roman Catholic who rose to claim the crown as England’s pre-eminent composer and his gentle, moving Sospiri for strings, organ and harp drew an intense and moving performance from the orchestra. The evening finished with Vaughan Williams’ Serenade to Music for which bass Joshua Chapman joined the other soloists, choir and full orchestra. Vaughan Williams had strong connections with Brentwood and his Serenade with its lyrical praise of the beauty of music was a fitting climax of the celebration of the Diocesan centenary in music. More photos below of the excellent singers and instrumentalists who helped to make this such a special musical celebration of the Diocesan Centenary Celebration

centenary concert

centenary concert centenary concert centenary concert
centenary concert centenary concert centenary concert
centenary concert centenary concert

centenary concert
Text – Thanks to David Worsfold .. Photos © Graham Hillman