Review of 'From Russia with Love'
by Michael Nunn
Russian music has a distinctive character all of its own and the varied forms from the 18th & 19th centuries were stylishly and convincingly performed by the Lancaster Singers. The choice of an all Russian programme was a brave one & the Singers under the
steady guidance of their urbane conductor Denis McCaldin were on their usual fine form.
But they must be congratulated on rising to the fiendish challenges of pronouncing and enunciating the unfamiliar sounds of old Slavonic.
The Recosa String Quartet, founded in 2005, comprises final year students from Lancaster University. Their performances, particularly of the Andante of Borodin's hauntingly beautiful 2nd String Quartet were sterling - once their early reticence has evaporated. It is a pity that the Priory's acoustics are less than flattering to such a small ensemble.
The evening opened with four contrasted settings of The Lord's Prayer followed by choral music of Stravinsky, Tchaikovsky and Rakhmaninov, interspersed by the Andante from Tchaikovksy's early Op 11 Quartet. A glass of wine proved most welcome on a chilly windy night.
The second half opened with the mesmerising and anonymous Kontakion for the Dead. I particularly enjoyed Tchaikovsky's beautiful Crown of Roses and the uproarious waltz scene from Act 2 of his opera Eugene Onegin which brought a thoroughly enjoyable evening to a close.
Copyright 10th March '08 Michael Nunn
                      

About the Lancaster Singers

Over more than 30 years Lancaster Singers has grown to a 70 - strong mixed voice chamber choir.
What unites us all is a love of music and performance and the pursuit of
musical excellence. We have all had a short informal audition and although some musical literacy is expected, we believe the variety of our musical backgrounds adds to the diversity and flexibility of the group.

Our repertoire has included most of the great choral master-pieces.
We perform as an a capella group through to large scale works with orchestra and we normally give five or six concerts a year which are held in a variety of venues ranging from large concert halls, where we perform with professional orchestras and soloists,  to tiny village churches.

If you are interested in joining us there are limited vacancies for new members.
Please contact
 Chris Haughton, Chair,
at
Inversanda, Rosslyn Ave, Preesall, Poulton le Fylde,
Lancashire, FY6 0HE
Tel: 01253 811360
E-mail: chris.haughton@tiscali.co.uk