Harpist Lucy Haslar. Picture by Jennifer Burton.
MUSICI WAS spellbound during the performance of the Camerata Chamber Choir concert on Saturday.
The choir performed some of the works of Patrick Hawes. Furthermore, he was there, at St John’s Church, Newport, to conduct them, and brought a real sense of strength and emotion to the singing.
For those who do not know of Patrick’s work, it is based on his impressions of his native Lincolnshire and during his time in Norfolk, where the vast skies and enormous light patterns manifest themselves in his music.
Mr Hawes was composer in residence at Classic FM for a while and his album Towards the Light was voted the highest new entry in the 2007 Hall of Fame.
The Camerata Choir performed to perfection.
Their range of vocals was clear and precise and the outstanding soloist, Marian Jones, was a joy to listen to.
The use of the harp in the string quartet alongside the choir was unique.
The audience was captivated.
As a short interlude, we were also mesmerised by the harpist, Lucy Haslar, who played Patrick Hawes’s composition How Hill, inspired by his love of Norfolk and its windmills. How riveting it was.
The smoothness and dexterity of the harp was beautifully executed. It is difficult to imagine anyone playing it better.
A regular member of the audience said to me afterwards: "That was their best ever" and a real tribute to all the hard work the choir put in, under the able direction of Jurgita Leistrumaite.