Frank Cliff reviews Pakefield Singers performance at St Margaret's Church in Lowestoft.
It was an attractive programme which the Pakefield Singers, under their conductor, Vetta Wise, fielded for their Saturday concert at St. Margaret's Church in Lowestoft.
Accompanied by only string quartet and organ, the two main works were Vivaldi's Gloria RN589 and Schubert's Mass in G Major.
Before the Gloria we heard Vivaldi's short Concerto alla Rustica for strings, The Pakefield Players giving a stylish performance, with well focused sound.
The opening of the Gloria had all the vitality one expects from this famous work, although one missed the trumpet and oboe obbligato. It was well paced throughout with excellent solos from the sopranos and altos.
Sensitive playing came from organist Jonathan Palman in the Pastorale fom the 1st Organ sonata by Alexandre Guilmant, before the Schubert Mass, a delightful early work by Schubert, and performed here with great distinctio, the soloists from the choir tackling Schubert's sometimes taxing music with great elan.
To end, the finale from Beethoven's only oratorio, Mount of Olives, badly needing the orchestral accompaniment, but rousingly sung.
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