Review by Andrew Crane:

FAIRFORD & District Choral Society performed for the last under time under the baton of their founding musical director, John Read, on Saturday, November 28.

The work chosen for the farewell concert, Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle, embodies a wide variety of styles and provided an opportunity to show much has been achieved by a choral society with modest financial resources but a great will to succeed and a strong local following.

Rossini’s mass was first performed in 1864, late in musical life made famous by operatic masterpieces including The Barber of Seville and William Tell.

Despite its liturgical basis, Rossini was not able, and probably never intended, to disguise the operatic pedigree of this substantial work.

The accompaniment is unusually scored for piano and harmonium and was expertly delivered by Robin Baggs and Jonathan Hope.

Soprano Charlotte Newstead, mezzo Alison Bell and bass Martin Le Poidevin, all previous performers at Fairford, were joined by tenor John Bacon. A Although in the Gratias trio the blend was not entirely successful, the solo, duet and quartet movements were well executed, particularly enjoyable being the tenor Domine Deus, the most overtly operatic and melodic aria, and the bass Quoniam.

Rossini presents many challenges for the chorus, not least cohesion in the extended fugues, Cum Sancto Spiritu and Et vitam venture saeculi. Both, however, were accurately delivered in a convincing and spirited fashion at a very satisfying tempo.

Such was their success that nay tonal imprecision in the highly chromatic opening Kyrie was easily forgiven by the appreciative capacity audience.

John paid tribute to all those who had worked with him to support the Society since its inception.

He wished his successor, Marysia Gorska every success and encouraged all to return for her first concert, Messiah, on May 1, 2016, before leaving the rostrum for the final time, amid loud and sustained applause.