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A review from Alastair Findlay
MUSIC REVIEW: THE CHANTICLEER SINGERS - Spirit of Romanticism
The Chanticleers performed on the 6th of May at the Anglican Church of Parkview, otherwise known as "St Francis by the bottle store." Their recital formed part of the St Francis Music Festival, one of the great delights on Johannesburg's music calendar.
Their programme was most thoughtfully put together, showcasing poets and composers of the 19th century and exemplifying the spirit of Romanticism.
Sitting in the 2nd pew I could appreciate the different voice groups, from the resonant basses to the soaring sopranos and hear them woven together with breathtaking synchronicity. Gillian McCabe narrated the poems exquisitely while Esté Meerkotter and Louise Frahm-Arp conducted the singers. The Romantics placed the value of beauty above all else and beauty was delivered in abundance. By the time they got to the Elgar, I was suffering from a severe case of Stendhal syndrome. "Is there a doctor in the house?" Fortunately there was, in the form of Dr. Isabelle van Rensburg on the organ. The choir filed out of the church and Dr van Rensburg administered a strong dose of Felix Mendelssohn. Now I'm not sure what infusion she put in the pipes, but in moments I found myself transported into realms and vistas I didn't know existed. It was nothing short of sublime, the central aesthetic of the Romantic sensibility. Seven more pieces were performed after the organ interlude, culminating in Charles Wood's "O thou the central orb." It was described by Andrew Grant as "the ultimate all purpose anthem. It sounds good and the words mean nothing at all. Perfect!"
Get out your diary and write down "Cookies & Cream" on the 28th of June at 18h00. It is Chanticleer's next offering in which they will be celebrating the pleasures of the table in song.