Saturday 26th April 2008

'The Armed Man'

.....The combined voices of the Ceramic City Choir, Leek Phoenix Singers and the Pugin Singers produced a profoundly moving performance communicated with great compassion and warmth. The energy of the choir was remarkable; they sang with great precision throughout and were careful to maintain the atmosphere between movements, holding the stillness and silence........

Sunday 29th April 2007

Elgar - Dream of Gerontius

...gave a thrilling and uplifting performance of Elgar's Dream of Gerontius in the Victoria Hall last night. ................ Anne-Marie Owens (mezzo-soprano) seldom referred to her score, thereby communicating directly with the audience; her final Alleluia was a moment of shattering intensity. The orchestral playing was polished throughout and the serene instrumental introductions created an atmosphere of tranquility. The excellent combined chorus of some 200 singers confidently portrayed all different moods from the triumphant 'Praise to the Holiest in the Height' to the evil Chorus of Demons. They sang with purpose, focus and dynamic contrast.

---------------

Saturday16th December 2006

Family Christmas Concert

'Night of carols we all know and love - a chorus from Bach's Christmas Oratorio ushered in an astoundingly varied and entertaining concert at the Victoria Hall in Hanley.
It was sung by the Ceramic City Choir, whose Family Christmas concert the occasion was, with a lengthy programme that found space for old favourites as well as some charming music by school children, great brass rhythms, and - would you believe - the irresistible, foot tapping drive of a Caribbean steel band. 

---------------

Saturday 4th November 2006

Memorable Mozart

'Memorable Mozart' - that was the title given by the Ceramic City Choir to its superb concert at St George's Church, Newcastle. In front of a packed audience it turned out to be memorable in more ways than one.
Top of the bill was the performance of Ian Tracey, organist and master of the choristers at Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral. He did several stints at the terrific St George's organ...........Tracey quickly demonstrated a subtle Mozart style that was, perhaps, more dramatic than lyrical, though the singing throughout was wonderfully expressive. 

---------------

Saturday 1st April 2006

Rutter conducts Rutter
(John Rutter conducting his own work)

Saturday night's 'Rutter conducts Rutter' at Hanley's Victoria Hall attracted a full house, as was to be expected .....

The evening opened with a cycle of his folk song settings titled 'The Sprig of Thyme' and the choir sang exquisitely in this rich banquet of nostalgia. Next came the problematic part of the concert, 'Magnificat', first performed in New York's Carnegie Hall. Melanie Marshall (as the soloist) quickly revealed herself as one of those mezzos for whom the acoustically-blessed Victoria Hall might have been built.

There were thrills aplenty from both soloist and chorus, especially in the Et Misericordia. In 'Feel the Spirit', a cycle of seven spirituals Melanie came into her own and with the choir swept us all of our feet.