Actually Gay Men’s Chorus always delight and surprise, and their Christmas concert found them at the very top of their form.
They have a deep rich creamy tone, with bottom and top parts combining beautifully. But one of their great attributes is their sheer vocal power. And Show Me Christmas, their seasonal concert, proved that in abundance.
Under the dexterous control of musical director Samuel Cousins, they didn’t put a note wrong in their joyous two-hour concert. Sam has a knack of getting them to sing full belt and a capella, then cutting the final note off so the sound soars to the rafters of St Mary’s in Kemptown, where it lingers, resonates and falls back to our ears. Every time they do this it’s an absolute delight.
Their rip-roaring opening was Joubert’s Torches, with its marching rhythms and contrasting quiet sections – a brilliant start. In the Bleak Midwinter had soloists Jack Lynn and Bill Meatyard giving us delightfully clear high notes. When they’re a capella, the chorus is often at their best and so it was with the Coventry Carol, with its haunting minor keys.
Ian Hollands, positioned at the back of the congregation, had a great tone as he sang and the chorus responded in the high octane Gaudete, and the new-to-me Joseph’s Lullaby was haunting and beautiful. Live On, with a whole group of soloists, reminded us of those we’ve lost as we are “grateful for the gift of one more day”.
Three TV/film themes made up the first half – Rex Admirabilis had its chorus of Sound Of Music nuns replaced with a small group ensconced out of sight at the high altar, sounding pitch perfect. The Vicar Of Dibley’s theme The Lord Is My Shepherd had triumphantly strong harmonies – wonderful to hear, and was followed by the lush melodies of Irving Berlin’s classic White Christmas.
Part Two gave us more of a relaxed party feeling, with the group in open neck shirts and sporting braces. O Holy Night, with solos by Nick Paget and Andrew Whitlaw got applause mid-song – richly deserved. Bethlehem, by the creators of Les Mis, was another first for me, with soft and gentle melodies building to a great climactic ending. A kind of Jive Bunny mix followed and then lively interpretations of Let It Snow and Rocking Merry Christmas put us in good spirits.
There was a fun audience participation number with the fiendishly complicated 12 Days of Christmas, which involved a lot of standing up and sitting down in rapid succession, but we got through it. And it was almost time to go – but Actually had one more cracker up its sleeve – a gorgeous Disney medley, and for me its highlight – the timely and haunting God Help The Outcasts from Hunchback of Notre Dame.
Can this choir get any better ? I doubt it. First class stuff and a full five stars.
