Advent by Candlelight
The Cambridge Voices Advent Concert at Swaffham Prior is a remarkable event. People travel from as far away as Watford to attend. It always follows the same format, yet each year presents something entirely new and fresh. The music has such variety and this year was no exception. We were introduced to a whole new range of contemporary composers - Elizabeth Poston, Andrew Carter, Richard Marlow, Richard Allain -in addition to the usual Bach, Howells, Tallis and others, and Ian's own arrangements. Ian de Massini and Cambridge Voices again played to a full and appreciative house. The readings ranged from Isaiah to Zephaniah, John Clare to John Betjeman, Wilfred Owen on miners to William Shakespeare on frostbite, and the readers interpreted their pieces with enthusiasm and clarity. For an amazing 17th year running this event has been put together, rehearsed and directed by Ian, Hilary Sage and Elisabeth Everitt, and the standard of performance seems to improve every year.
In the event, Sunday November 28th was an exceptionally cold night, and Ian wondered whether the whole performance should be in St Mary's because of the intense cold in St Cyriac's. In the end the simple magic of St Cyriac's was irresistible and the musicians, readers, and audience all braved the freezing cold to hear and enjoy the second half of the programme. And how glad we were because so much otherwise would have been lost.
This was the first concert in the refurbished St Cyriac's. A review of the architectural success and effect of the alterations will appear later.