Rodolfus Choir

MICHAEL DRAKE

Snape Maltings (Snape Proms)

One of the country's best acappella choirs was at the Maltings with a programme entitled Evening Hymn and the 40 or so young singers under director Ralph Allwood, last evening moved easily and with vocal maturity across nearly five centuries of generally contemplative music.

It was bound by the contemporary Eric Whitacre's compositions which showed the choir's splendid balance and fine legato singing alied to great tonal colouring.

With the singers ranged across the width of the stage the centrepieces was Tallis' famous 40-part motet Spem in Alum, in which the contrapuntal complexities were surely defined. Other Tallis' pieces were warm and rich in sound with his Loquebantur sung as if on rhythmical springs.

Arvo Part's Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis were effective in their relative simplicity, while in complete contrast, sets of songs by Webern and Berg in arrangements by Clytus Gottwald tested the high sopranos in particular, as the voices all proved that the Germanic style suits them.

It took time for the Rodolfus Choir to settle vocally to the art of communication in a reflective programme for the end of the day but their expertises was at the highest standard and they displayed it to the full.

MIKEDRAK