Familiar figures from the Ely Cathedral music tradition took part in the final concert for the Second Ely Summer School for Singers in the Gibson Hall at the King's School Ely.
The brain child of Vanessa Scott, the event featured Paul Trepte, Scoot Farrell and Jonathan Lilley. Paul Trepte, Director of Music at Ely Cathedral, conducted the grand finale: "Let all the World in Every corner Sing" – a culmination of a commendab
le concert given by a variety of singers of all ages.
Jonathan Lilley, Assistant Organist at the Cathedral, accompanied impeccably on the grand piano, and the magnificent power and abandonment he showed when he struck the opening chords of the final piece brought smiles of delight to the audience – as his playing had done throughout the evening.
Scott Farrell, a previous Assistant Organist at the Cathedral, conducted the major work for the evening: Purcell's "Dido and Aeneas" in which the choir sang in unified splendour.
The work also featured a number of contributions from talented soloists. A notable example was Giulia Pelligreno who gave a mesmerising performance of "Dido's Lament", a fascinating piece founded on a ground bass (a single phrase repeated again and again).
Her pleas: "Remember me" caught the soft and painful cry perfectly highlighting the way the phrase matched the inflection of the words exactly.
Another highlight of the evening was the colourful and impeccably enunciated performance of "The Ruler of the Queen's Navy" from Gilbert and Sullivan's "HMS Pinafore" sung by Jonathan Miles.
The event marked the culmination of the work of Vanessa, Paul, Scott and Jonathan and included many additional intriguing activities.
These included a close look at the workings of the throat and larynx, barbershop with Peter North, movement with Helen Pettit, a demonstration of the Alexander Technique and the expert contribution of the Associated Board Royal Schools of Music representative, Clara Taylor.
During the week, the course also presented a recital of soloists in the Lady Chapel and the chamber choir sang evensong in the Cathedral.
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