HANDEL’S CORONATION MUSIC AT GREAT ST. MARY’S
Eboracum in full mode - a brilliant sound
Eboracum Baroque ensemble grow their reputation with every performance; tight bright and technically a thrill to listen to, their fame has spread from their York base. Ten years on from their beginnings this upbeat youthful unpretentious set of musicians simply exude the love of their music. And, if you have to have one, could there be a better line up for a jubilee than players who have a sense of joy - and a feeling for history.
Handel became a star composer in the court of George 1, the originator of the Hanoverian line of which the present queen is the latest incumbent. George had little idea politics would shake down so randomly as to propel him , a minor nobleman from the banks of the River Leine in lower Saxony - deep in what became East Germany - to the throne of the emerging super- power of Great Britain. He was not an obvious choice, but the closer contenders of the Stuart dynasty were all ( unlike Queen Anne herself who was a staunch Protestant) tainted with the perceived stain of Catholicism. George sprang clear of any hint of ‘Rome’ and took on the role at the Queen’s death. That he knew little about England and her dominions, nor did he speak a word of English, seemed not to trouble anyone, it is ironic that he encouraged the great composer of the day Handel, author of so much royal music and brought him over to live in London - for Handel was a devout and keen Catholic and went to Mass every day of his life.
Eboracum are Handel experts . Last night’s music featured masses of Water Music, all delightfully familiar. Handel worked so successfully on the royal entertainments on the Thames , George Rex loved it so much , he had it played all over again, three times !. No wonder. It is spine- tinglingly uplifting. This music might be classified as ancient, but it hits the spot more often than more modern compositions.
Faces of the youthful ensemble
What was surprising was the depth of tone and sheer volume Eboracum created. A friend remarked ‘ our choir has four time the number of sopranos, but we don’t make that kind of volume’ . Naomi Sturges in especial along with Elen Lloyd Roberts and Amber Parsons, were glorious in tone, timbre and timing. By the second half I was planning a solo career for Naomi to rival Katherine Jenkns - but all three were in the Premier League were there to be one, of sopranos. Altos were heaven, Mark Williams and Laura Baldwin and Alex Osborne did the job of densifying the sound with enormous skill whilst bass singers Melir Jones and John Holland Avery resonated off the vaulted ceiling and back to the solid pews of Great Saint Mary’s. JHA got the warmest applause of the night - which is saying something from the enthusiastic listerners- with his brilliant rendition of an unusual GFH piece , an aria from his one go at an opera ‘Rinaldo’, all in Italian. As Handel was so popular and the piece so brilliant, he managed to score with a composition in the ( suspect) language of a Catholic country.
Eboracum ready for any form of ancient music
Eboracum, all conducted by the exuberant energy of leader Chris Parsons, managed to even sell us the merits of the ancient instruments with two entertaining presentations of the Violin player Alice Poppleton ( her fiddle was over 300 years old spotted in an auction and took a year to restore), and oboist Katie Lewis whose playing of this hugely important ancient piece flew in great arcs of sublime sound over the sawing violins.
Eboracum really is an ensemble for everyone. They steered a musical way through the evening with their wonderful sounds and intriguing stories - and although it was monarchical and royal throughout, any republican could - and did. -truly enjoy the fullness of the music and the subtlety of the presentation .
Eboracum will present two unusual concerts in the Orchard Granchester Tea Room '; on 10th June Baroque Classics and on Saturday 11th June Purcell’s King Arthur, both at 7.30 p.m.
Forthcoming summer music from Eboracum
