A Family Christmas Spectacular - Concert Review…

‘A packed All Saints Church in Hove, played host to an uplifting afternoon of glorious Christmas music to warm even the heart of Scrooge.The opening carol, Once in Royal David’s City engaged the audience from the word go with a solo verse performed by a member of the  Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus . Next followed a highlight, Anderson’s Christmas Festival Overture which afforded all the sections to not only showcase but also impress with good use of dynamics.  Dance of the Tumblers, a musical excerpt from Act III of the opera Snow Maiden, written by Rimsky Korsakoff, one of the great Russian composers was a real highlight. It was short but it sure packed a punch. Silent night featured a three excellent soloists from the Chorus. A few technical problems ensued but it was so good, they performed it twice.Concerto Grosso No. 6 ~ a song originally by Corelli. It was a collection of twelve concerti written by Arcangelo Corelli probably in the 1680s but not prepared for publication until 1714. They are among the finest and first examples of concerti grossi: concertos for a concertino group and a ripieno group of strings with continuo. The piece was performed with great sensitivity and there was an outstanding solo by SSO Leader Sophia Bartlette.Ave Maria by Fran’s Biebl was performed by the BGMC. There were some complex harmonies and challenging intervals, however, they coped well and demonstrated good use of dynamics.The final item in the first half was Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel Prelude. Here the reoccurring theme was performed by all the sections with some excellent pizzicato passages from the violins and strong assured entries from the brass. A rousing section was followed by the mellifluous main theme.The Polar Express came steaming into All Saints as the overture from the popular 2004 American fantasy adventure film creating the festive feel-good factor. The music was majestic and conjured up snowy mountains and the dramatic rhythm of the moving train. The woodwind shone and there was stunning staccato passages from the cellos and double bass sections.  The Brighton Gay men’s chorus performed a stunning arrangement of the much-loved popular classic, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. This was followed by their conductor, Joe Paxton, who performed a politically correct and highly entertaining alternative version of ‘Twas the night before Christmas.Adolphe Adam’s O Holy Night was a huge hit with the audience and brought out the spiritual side of Christmas music. In complete contrast,Winter Wonderland created festive cheer with impressive playing from the full orchestra.The packed audience sang heartily in O Come All Ye Faithful before enjoying three extracts from Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker which is set on Christmas Eve at the foot of a Christmas tree in a child’s imagination.In the March, the brass came to the fore, and the Danse Arab there were some beautiful quiet reflective passages. The rousing brass and rhythmic, staccato playing brought The Trepak to an uplifting climax.To round off a wonderful afternoon with the highly professsional Sussex Symphony Orchestra and The Brighton’s Gay men’s Chorus, The Twelve Days Of Christmas brought mirth in great abundance. It also afforded the audience the opportunity to stretch their leg and laughter muscles!Conductor Malcolm Warnes, is a sympathetic and engaging conductor. He had a good rapport with the audience and ensured everyone left All Saints with a warm festive glow.This outstanding orchestra deserves packed audiences for 2025…’

Susan Fleet MBE