'Messiah' receives Standing Ovation

Extract from Press Review......

'Well, that was simply the best Messiah I have ever heard' was just one of the audience comments on leaving Dewsbury Town Hall last Saturday, having joined with many others in the audience in giving the Yorkshire Philharmonic Choir, Amici Ensemble and the superb soloists a deserved and sustained standing ovation, following what was an outstanding performance of Handel's Messiah.

The whole performance was fresh and exhilarating, not something easily achieved with a work which is so famous and so often performed. Much of this must be credited to the interpretation of Maestro Andrew Padmore, whose selection of challenging tempi in some choruses gave them a zest and drama not often achieved. Great credit must be given to the choir and orchestra in rising to these challenges and injecting the sought after dynamism in such choruses as 'For unto us a child is born, He trusted in God, Let us break their bonds and Amen' . Rarely has the surely intended 'dance like' effect of 'O thou that tellest' been presented so well by contralto soloist Hannah Mason and choir.

The soloists, Bethany Seymour (Soprano), Hannah Mason (Contralto), Ben Thapa (Tenor) and Andrew Mahon (Bass) were on top form. Interpreting their respective pieces with heart felt meaning and exceptional musicality. Special mention must be made of the extra drama brought by Tenor Ben Thapa as he turned chillingly on the choir to sing 'Thy Rebuke hath broken his heart' to heightened effect.

The skilful and flawless playing of the Amici Ensemble with David Francis adding the unique sound of the harpsichord, transported the listener back in time, allowing us to experience the sounds that generations have experienced before us, all the way back to the 1740's.

This was a return to Dewsbury after a gap of 6 years by the Yorkshire Philharmonic Choir and they have shown in that time they have gone from strength to strength. They are an excellent musical ambassador for our region and worthy of effort to get to their concerts wherever they are are performing in Yorkshire. But whatever you do, don't miss them on their next return to Dewsbury!