Reprinted from Jamaica Observer
TYRONE S REID, Observer staff writer Tuesday, December 19, 2006
The Kingston College Chapel Choir perform at their 2006 Christmas concert at the UWI Mona chapel on Sunday evening. (Photo: Bryan Cummings)
The renowned Kingston College Chapel Choir is in transition. As such, their 2006 Christmas Concert, held at the UWI Mona chapel on Sunday evening, while providing a good delivery of the full range of the choir's talent and a few highlights, did not have a memorable impact.
Under the direction of long-serving choir master, Wayne Moore, the group, comprising mainly new trebles, offered a suite of celebrated classical selections, sacred tunes and carols - accom-panied by musicians Michelle Brown (organ), Paulette Bellamy (violin, piano), Katherine Brodber (viola) and Ezroy Brown (bass).
Robed in long purple cassocks, the choir opened their presentation with a ceremonial yet robust interpretation of Louis Vierne's Kyrie Eleison, renewing the power and grandeur of a seriously hackneyed hymn with lush choral harmonies.
With a high quotient of spirit that infused their performance, the choir then thrilled the packed chapel with Handel's For Unto Us a Child is Born and Wood's Hail Gladdening Spirit before moving into their feature work for the evening, Handel's Nisi Dominus (with voicing for choir and soloists).
With not-quite-over-the-top solos by guest performers David Reid (tenor), Robert Brown (alto) and Maurice Wilson (bass), the choir ambitiously delivered the selection, despite the intermittent lack of clarity in their voices and some straining on the part of the younger choristers.
The group then seemingly entered their comfort zone with Christmas carols - delivering the renditions with greater passion and vitality. The powerful delivery of Sir Christemas brought loud applause from the audience as did the moving acapella tune Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day.
Their luck continued in the second half, which saw another mix of sacred tunes and carols. Purcell's Rejoice In The Lord Alway, led by a trio of choristers, heralded the opening of the half. With a wonderful blend, the soloists and the chorus engaged with the 'call and respond' technique, the trebles and tenors shining most. Francis Poulenc's Hodie Christus Natus Est also provided a commanding blend but was delivered with more exuberance than the previous piece.
The presentation then moved into the second carol set with the renditions of Carol Of The Drums, And She Rock The Baby To Sleep and Candlelight Carol standing out as the most successful. Guest soprano soloist Jennifer Williams did a fair job tackling the lead on I Wonder As I Wander, popularised by revered American soprano, Jessye Norman.
While the performance by the soloist and the chorus was satisfactory, the song demanded a slower pace. In Dulci Jubilo, performed by some of the senior choristers, and In The Bleak Midwinter were quiet but poignant tunes.
Overall, this year's staging of the 59-year-old choir's annual Christmas concert proves that while the current batch of choristers (with old boys) display talent and are engaging for the most part, their voices lack the maturity to actually blow away an audience.
