Review - 12 May 2018

Premiere Performance Hits the Spot

It is not often that a choir is fortunate enough to stage the first performance of a brand new musical work.  Bridgwater Choral Society performed the premiere of Iain Cooper’s Benedicite at St Mary’s Church on Saturday evening.  Iain, who is the Society’s Conductor, composed the work earlier this year with the choir in mind.  This short modern work (six minutes long) uses all four voice sections of the choir, and a soprano soloist.  This is what our reviewer Andrew Maddocks had to say about the performance: ‘Ian Cooper’s Benedicite proved to be popularly received by both audience and performers alike. Written with an accompaniment of brass provided by the Wallscourt Quintet and a piano duet (John Bodiley and Frances Webb) with timpani (Michelle Hiley), Benedicite is a rhythmic tour-de-force and a well-constructed piece. The performance was much helped by Iain Cooper’s conducting clarity’.  

The concert also featured the Faure Requiem with string accompaniment and solos from Mary Morgan (soprano) and Andre Soares (baritone), a short piece for brass quintet, and Handel’s Coronation Anthems.  The latter setting the scene rather nicely for the forthcoming royal wedding!

Review for Bridgwater Mercury