“The choir has an excellent history of well-focused performances” (Dr Brian Hick, Lark Reviews)
Recent Events
2022
Saturday 7th May 2022
Great Choral Classics III
with the Sussex Concert Orchestra and soloists Louisa Alice-Rose & Peter Grevatt
conducted by Kenneth Roberts
at the De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill
This was our third Great Choral Classics concert at the DLWP, originally scheduled for May 2020 but postponed because of the pandemic. We moved from ‘classical’ items such as Orff’s Carmina Burana, Mozart’s Dies Irae and Laudate Dominum, and pieces by Beethoven, Hayden, Elgar and Stainer, to selections from Lehar’s Merry Widow, Gilbert and Sullivan, and finally some great songs from Rodgers & Hammerstein musicals – something for everyone!
The concert was very well received and audience comments included: ‘a lovely evening’ ‘I really enjoyed the evening’ ‘an excellent programme’ ‘some spine-tingling moments’ ‘a wonderful sound and all so professional’ ‘the choir sounded strong and confident and had excellent diction’ ‘the choir, the orchestra and the soloists were all excellent’ ‘what a wonderful concert’.
2021
Saturday 11th December 2021
St Barnabas Church, Sea Road, Bexhill. TN40 1JG
Carols and Christmas Music for choir and audience
with the Cinque Ports Brass, organist Nigel Howard, and soprano soloist Helen May
Our Christmas concert is always a feast of seasonal music and carols, both traditional and modern. The concert has become a very popular and well-attended event and despite a rainy evening and the need for Covid precautions, was enthusiastically received by a large audience.
Saturday 16th October 2021
St Barnabas Church, Sea Road, Bexhill. TN40 1JG
Fauré Requiem, Vivaldi Credo, Corrette Laudate Dominum
Our first concert since the pandemic was a resounding success and warmly received by a large and enthusiastic audience.
2019
Saturday 7th December 2019
Carols and Christmas Music for Choir and Audience
with the Cinque Ports Brass, organist Nigel Howard & soloist Susannah Appleyard
“Even Scrooge would have warmed to Christmas with this presentation. It was different and fun. It was a delightful mixture of the familiar, and not too familiar, sung by the choir paying attention to dynamics, crisp or melodious when needed. Conductor Ken Roberts put together a splendidly varied programme…a delightful entertaining ‘Christmas’ evening”. Lark Reviews
To listen to a small selection of Christmas music and carols from our Christmas 2019 concert follow the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ovx3bvqJi8 or search for Bexhill Choral Christmas on YouTube. The concert was accompanied by the Cinque Ports Brass and this selection includes the sparkling ‘Caribbean Christmas’, conductor Kenneth Robert’s rearrangement of familiar carols for brass.
Saturday, 2nd November 2019
The Society welcomed singers of all levels of experience or none to a taster morning singing ‘classical’ choral music. Choir members and more than 25 visitors enjoyed trying out the famous ‘O Fortuna’ chorus from Orff’s Carmina Burana, and a new version of the ‘Kyrie Eleison’, set to Beethoven’s ‘Moonlight’ sonata by the choir’s Director of Music, Kenneth Roberts. Kenneth was ably assisted throughout the morning by accompanist Nigel Howard, and local soprano and vocal tutor Susannah Appleyard was on hand to give valuable tips on singing technique.
Saturday 5th October 2019
Beethoven Mass in C; Schubert Stabat Mater D175; Mendelssohn Hear My Prayer; Mozart Ave Verum; Gounod O Divine Redeemer (solo); Mendelssohn Overture ‘The Hebrides’
With the Sussex Concert Orchestra
Soloists: Kristy Swift (soprano); Judith Buckle (contralto); Gary Marriott (tenor); Barnaby Beer (Baritone)
“A lovely concert on Saturday evening. It was delightful, professionally played and sung, a superb evening” (Audience member)
Saturday 11th May 2019
Rutter Requiem and songs from The Sprig of Thyme; Roberts According to Thy Word
With the Sussex Concert Orchestra
“A concert of modern English choral music, wistfully melancholic and gently lyrical…included a sensitively unaccompanied Willow Song for the choir… The very long lines of the concluding Lux Aeterna [in Rutter’s Requiem] proved to be no problem for the choir which had risen to the dynamic challenges of all three works with ease”. (Brian Hick, Lark Reviews)
2018
Saturday 8th December 2018
Carols and Christmas Music for Choir and Audience
With the Cinque Ports Brass
“An exhilarating ‘Torches! Torches!’ followed by the mellow glow of Berlioz’ ‘Shepherd’s Farewell’ set the tone. Throughout, the crisp rhythms of the choir and the clear diction added to the sense of immediacy… All involved were on fine form throughout”. (Brian Hick, Lark Reviews)
Saturday 6th October 2018
Rossini Stabat Mater; Franck Psalm 150; Puccini Requiem; Schubert Tantum Ergo
With the Sussex Concert Orchestra
Brahms Requiem
Brahms Requiem at the De La Warr Pavilion, with the Sussex Concert Orchestra
Best of British A fundraising lecture recital by BCS’s Director of Music, Kenneth Roberts
2017
Handel Messiah
“Kenneth Roberts brought a dramatic intensity to his reading which helped keep the narrative moving rapidly. Choral singing was crisp and responsive throughout, with clear articulation of the text and very tight rhythms. ‘And He shall purify’, ‘Behold the Lamb of God’ and ‘All we like sheep’ were particularly clear in attack and clarity of part singing.” (Dr. Brian Hick, http://www.larkreviews.co.uk).
Vivaldi Magnificat, Monteverdi Beatus Vir, selections of works by Purcell
Carols & Christmas Music for Choir and Audience
“Bexhill Choral Society was in splendid voice for its traditional concert of carols and Christmas music. A very large audience joined the choir and Cinque Ports Brass for an evening which brimmed over with good things. It may have been cold outside, but our hearts had been warmed by a wonderful evening”. (Dr. Brian Hick, http://www.larkreviews.co.uk).
Bexhill Choral Society 