Reviewed by Andrew Buchanan-Smart
The prevalence of light or luminosity was central to this Cambridge Festival of Singing performance. The 21 voices in the ‘a capella’ Lumina Vocal Ensemble gave a performance which radiated a rich variety of vocal colours, each reflective of the repertoire that provided an almost chronological time traveller’s guide from medieval gems to masterpieces of the Renaissance, Baroque and morsels from Eastern Europe and contemporary Australia.
The choice of repertoire and the variety therein allowed them to perform a very wide variety of vocal techniques, with a rich aural palette that morphed into various shades of luminosity, totally reflective and congruent to the work being performed. Of note, In flagellis by Josquin des Prez had a Renaissance clarity and purity of tone unmatched elsewhere, while the Kondalilla by the Australian Stephen Leek captured the sounds of the Australian landscape and the vocalise presented the drone of the didgeridoo. Tropar by Hana Havrylets reflected the poignant events unravelling in Ukraine. Three worlds, each uniquely captured and expressed by the human voice, which has the ability to portray emotions beyond words. A stunning display of excellent choral singing and was a gallimaufry of delectation.
The Hamilton Civic Choir’s performance Walking on Sunbeams was an eclectic array of pieces drawn from around the world. The 39 voices were an accompanied choir, mainly with piano but as the programme dictated oboe, flute and cello were infused into the programme.
The opening A Te Tarakihi Haka from Ngāti Maniopoto firmly imprinted the Maöri presence. This well-designed programme moved from the invocation of moonlight, towards sunlight. There were two complementary settings of Emily Dickinson’s The Moon is Distant from the Sea, one by David Childs, the other by David Hamilton. Another evocation to the moon was Randell Stroope’s Song to the Moon. Luminous Night of the Soul by Ola Gjeilo and Sally Whitwell’s Lux Aeterna (eternal light) referenced an inner light. David Hamilton’s Shine Out, Fair Sun finally gave some sunlight. The choir had one beautifully homogenous sound that pervaded, with the blend and balance being evenly controlled and consistent throughout all repertoire.
The combined encore was a joyful summation of this concert celebrating luminosity, which was performed to a near full house in a venue which suited the resonance and warmth of the human voice. The natural acoustic of the Town Hall is superb.
