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Dear All

I want to congratulate everyone on giving a really good Composers' Anniversaries concert on 1 November. This felt to me, to members of the audience who spoke to me and, I hope, to many of you also, to be a significant concert in terms of the development and gathering forward momentum of the choir. Everyone seemed alert, very responsive, vibrant, and in good musical spirits - more so, perhaps, than on some past occasions. Very favourable comments on your performances were also made to me by members of the orchestra, and (in particular) by the soloists who have sung with the choir before - Charlotte and Tom. This was heartening as confirmation of my own perceptions and should provide a strong encouragement to us all.

When ideas were first being considered for this programme, I thought that it would be interesting to celebrate almost all of the major composers' anniversaries in 2009, rather than just one or two. I am sorry that there was not room for anything by James MacMillan (b. 1959), as well, but at least he received a rousing 'happy birthday' from me in a concert in St Martin-in-the-Fields in July, and we did enjoy performing his A New Song a couple of years ago. The organisers of this year's Proms thought that this was an interesting approach, too, as they featured Purcell, Handel, Haydn &q Mendelssohn on 25 August in the OAE/Norrington prom!

Stylistic diversity within one programme brings its own very real challenges for all involved, of course - choir, orchestra, soloists and conductor. It can be quite difficult to change from one style to another, but, if this pattern is successful, the experience can be hugely rewarding for everyone - performers and audience, alike, However, the ever-present danger of falling headlong into the abyss of 'many composers, one style' remains a worrying possibility that tends to sharpen the wits! But you managed to traverse this particular artistic 'Striding Edge' not only safely, but also very convincingly indeed.

The choir's singing in the Purcell was committed and passionate, sensitive to harmonic nuance and to the vigour of the great man's word setting. Mr. Dove's creation took flight, despite experiencing quite a long wait in the departure lounge! This was a considerable achievement and made a very exciting addition to our musical tapas [how many metaphors do you need?! Ed.]. Andrew's organ playing was thrilling - many congratulations to him and huge thanks for his very supportive week-by-week work in rehearsals.

Moving on from doves, wildernesses, the godless, sorely pained experiences, and being overwhelmed by horror in Bless the Lord, O my Soul, let us now consider Mendelssohn's Hear my prayer! The choir's contribution in this was exciting and dramatic, as befits the work. Again, Andrew's playing caught the style and period sound of the piece beautifully and both to this and to Ana-Maria Rincon's assured performance, the choir responded sensitively. The first half was brought to a rousing conclusion with Handel's Let thy hand be strengthened (both with and without the extra syllable!). The central movement in particular was very stylishly sung and fully repaid all the work we'd done.

It was a real joy to perform Haydn's [Maria]Theresa Mass. This work is so varied, so full of contrast, so energetic and yet so lyrical - as a result, is a huge challenge to perform - never underestimate the demands of singing his music... However, your heart-warming performance conveyed an infectious sense of enjoyment and left behind (mainly!) all those hard rehearsals getting the notes right. Above all, your singing possessed energy and textual relish, a sense of line and direction and an enjoyment of the vivid contrasts. So, very done, everyone!

Two nights after our concert, I went to hear the Gabrieli Consort in Christ Church, Spitalfields (Songs of Farewell: Music of mourning and consolation). One of the five basses was Marcus Farnsworth, our bass soloist! I believe that this programme will be released as a CD at some stage in the near future. Highly recommended - some of the most perfect singing live that I've heard in recent years...

I look forward to the charity concert on 5 May when, to quote Psalm 148, ' young men and maidens, old men and children, praise the Name of the Lord' gather [are you sure that this covers all the categories? Ed.] to raise money towards the proposed new concert hall in Mayfield. Looking further ahead, we shall meet in February to tackle works Gounod & Fauré. Both composers will demand plenty of attention to tone and tuning, timbre and musical subtlety, so this Festival concert will provide a very different challenge from rehearsing works where the notes are more difficult to discover. But, with a large orchestra, particularly in the Gounod, we need to develop our collective ability to project strongly [perhaps we should invite the Cabinet?!]

If you are free and interested, do please come to my concert with Nonsuch Singers and Stephen Disley (Assistant Organist, Southwark Cathedral) at St James's, Piccadilly on Saturday 12 December at 7.30pm. The enticing programme is entitled Christmas present, Christmas past and includes music by Thomas Adès, Judith Bingham, Byrd, John Gardner, Holst, Howells, Mathias, Sheppard, Tallis, Warlock and Judith Weir. Tickets will be available on the door.

All good wishes
Graham