HAYDN’S Nelson Mass is a dramatic choral work composed in dramatic circumstances. And Holmfirth Choral Society showed that it could respond with some stirring singing.
The mass originated as musical prayer for deliverance from the threat posed by revolutionary France and its star general, Napoleon Bonaparte. Then the Royal Navy, under Nelson, smashed the French Fleet. But Haydn was unaware of this respite when he composed his work, and its tone remained apprehensive rather than triumphalist.Š
There are parts for four solo singers, but the soprano is much the most dominant, and this lends an anguished urgency to the piece, well captured by the promising young singer Julia Morley.
Under the baton of Kenneth Rothery, and accompanied by the Valley Sinfonia, the Holmfirth Choral produced a fine sound.which was all the more impressive in the flat, unforgiving acoustic of the Civic Hall.
This is a choir that sings uninhibitedly, which is a very positive thing, except that occasionally one would have liked more light and shade.
The first half included two Handel coronation anthems, Zadok the Priest, which was well performed, and The King shall rejoice, which was less so. But it principally consisted of a lengthy and eclectic selection of solos from the guest singers, who included Jill Taylor (mezzo), Stephen Newlove (tenor) and Nigel Rothery (baritone). There were nice performances among this sequence, which included several very well known operatic selections, but it meant that the concert lost focus. Some extra choral items would have been welcome.Š
