The annual Gala Concert, held at the Royal Academy of Music, is always a highlight in the College’s musical calendar, showcasing the music scholars and giving them the opportunity to perform outside of the College. As before, the concert focused primarily on chamber music – a tricky medium, but the pupils rose to the challenge and this concert was as excellent as ever.
The string ensemble opened the concert with Sibelius’s dark and brooding Romance, which was immediately juxtaposed by an intimate and delicate piano duet. Next up was the slow movement from Weber’s Trio, here in an arrangement for piano, flute and bassoon, where the pastoral mood was well-captured. The ever-popular slow movement from Borodin’s String Quartet No. 2 was performed by the junior string quartet, with the constant dialogue between the instruments allowing for some expressive solos to shine through from all players. Following this was Paul Smadbeck’s Rhythm Song for solo marimba. This captivating piece, which is built on subtle shifts in rhythm and harmony, was particularly well-received by the audience. Closing the first half was the horn quartet, with an arrangement of two sarabandes by Handel. This year’s horn quartet performance was particularly special, as pupils performed alongside Timothy Jones, principal horn of the London Symphony Orchestra (and also parent to one of our horn players!).
The string quintet provided a rousing start to the second half with the first movement of Schumann’s Piano Quintet, with playing full of vigour and vitality. For a change of pace, the saxophone ensemble took the audience to central Paris, with relaxed jazz-inflected melodies set against the hustle and bustle of city life – complete with the sounds of taxi horns. The vocal trio provided yet another contrast with the tranquil Soave sia il vento from Così fan tutte. A solo on the double bass gave the opportunity for an instrument rarely heard on its own to shine, before Schola Cantorum ended the concert with music by Debbie Wiseman and by Hubert Parry. Wiseman’s A Day May Come – written to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE day – was particularly poignant, not only for the fact that it was sung on Remembrance Sunday, but also as Debbie was in the audience, along with librettist Grahame Davies. It was a reflective and fitting conclusion to a wonderful evening of music.
This concert demonstrated not only the depth and breadth of our music scholars, but also their commitment to music-making, made all the more commendable for the fact that all rehearsals took place outside of the regular school timetable.
Jamie Cochrane
Music Department
