Summer Concert 2026 'The Colours of the Rainbow'
Summer Concert 'The Colours of the Rainbow'
The audience was treated to a wonderfully varied and uplifting evening of music, blending timeless classics, jazz and contemporary choral works with style and enthusiasm. It had been a scorching week and the church was still warm so the colourful summer clothing in rainbow colours chosen by the choir was most appropriate.
The concert opened with the medieval round 'Sumer is icumen in', setting a joyful tone that continued through from the gentle optimism of Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head to the soaring beauty of Over the Rainbow and the warm nostalgia of Fields of Gold to You are my Sunshine and White Cliffs of Dover, which the audience were encouraged to join in with.
The first half continued with spirited performances of Blue Moon, I Got Rhythm and Night and Day, followed by a particular highlight with Jonathan French’s dazzling piano solo of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, showcasing both virtuosity and flair, and earning a standing ovation from the audience and choir.
Following the interval, where most took their glass of wine outside to enjoy the balmy evening, came the centrepiece of the evening: Will Todd’s vibrant Mass in Blue. This exhilarating work, which blends the traditional Latin Mass with jazz, gospel and blues influences, was performed with commitment and conviction. The choir rose superbly to its rhythmic challenges and expressive contrasts, while the accompanying musicians brought colour, vitality and swing to every movement.
Throughout the evening, the choir was superbly supported by compere Paul Kybird and an outstanding ensemble: Natasha Thompson on double bass, Guy Passey on saxophone, Richard Baker on percussion and Jonathan French on keyboard. Their accomplished playing provided both sensitive accompaniment and exciting instrumental highlights, contributing enormously to the concert’s success. We would like to thank them for their enthusiasm and skill.
The audience’s warm appreciation was rewarded with a fitting encore, What a Wonderful World. Its heartfelt simplicity provided the perfect conclusion to an evening that celebrated joy, hope and the power of music to bring people together.
It was an entertaining and memorable concert, enthusiastically received by all present, and a wonderful testament to the talent of both choir and musicians alike. A big thank you to everyone involved in organising it, especially the TCS Committee ably led by Julie Abrams and of course our wonderful MD Helen Swift, without whose vision none of this would happen.
|
An email received after our recent Easter Concert - 'Please pass on my thanks to everyone for tonight’s fantastic concert. It was so professional and of a very high standard. We are so lucky to have this standard of concert in Towcester.' We were so grateful to everyone who worked hard in getting everything set up for the concert, the choir themselves for their hard work in preparing for it together with Helen's constant tuition, skill and patience, and most of all to all of you for filling every seat and supporting us. We felt extremely lucky to have the very talented Nene Sinfonia accompanying us and well done to cello soloist Peter Wilson who held us breathbound during the Elgar Cello Concerto, bringing tears to the eyes. |
