Tuesday lunchtime in the RBA saw the traditional annual holiday gig by the (much depleted by sickness etc) Ensemble Studio.  Last minute drop outs meant it was pretty short but what there was was very decent.

There were a couple of Messiah excerpts.  Angelo Moretti gave us an excellent version of “Comfort ye…. Every valley”.  He managed the awkward runs very well and there was some really skilled piano playing from Kimly Wang.  Later Nick Murphy sang a powerful “The Trumpet Shall Sound” which reminded me just how weird Messiah is.  Two arias about the physical resurrection in gruesome detail?  Really Mr. Jennens!  Also this one sounds strange in piano score even with Elisabeta Cojocaru’s excellent playing.

The one piece on the programme I hadn’t heard was Carmen Braden’s Winter Lullabye which is a sort of tribute to surviving Canadian winters.  It’s high and difficult and managed very well by Emma Pennell.  Nick, perhaps unsurprisingly, provided the comic relief with a characterful “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch.”  He didn’t stink!

Emma and Ariana Maubach partnered for a two part arrangement of Carlisle Floyd’s short but evocative Long, Long Ago before Ariana sang In the Bleak Midwinter.  Christina Rosetti’s verse may have become one of the most performed Christmas carols but it still hits the spot.  Beautifully sung.  Angelo displayed previously unknown abilities by accompanying himself on the guitar for Liguori’s Tu scendi dalle stelle.  Everything he does in Italian sound so Italian!

The sing out by the all four singers and four hands at the piano was White Christmas, Silent Night and We Wish You a Merry Christmas.  So basically we got what it said on the box.

Photo credits: Dan Truong