As part of this year’s Arts Festival, audiences enjoyed a remarkable concert of French choral and organ music. Solo singers and organists, together with the 60-strong Chapel Choir, performed music by Fauré, Duruflé, Messiaen, Langlais and Debussy, including movements from Fauré’s Requiem in this his centenary year. The Chapel Choir, which welcomed 16 new members at the start of the academic year, was in exceptional form, singing with precision and sensitivity, and performing Duruflé’s Ubi caritas and Notre Père unconducted. A special mention must go to all the soloists, including Josh Chapman (OW), who returned from his studies at the Royal Academy of Music, to sing Fauré’s Sylvie.
The concert served to highlight the very best of late Romantic, Impressionist and early Modernist French music, with further details on history and context provided by informative programme notes and translations from A Level French and Music students. Parents and invited guests also enjoyed the launch of the Chapel Choir’s new recording: J S Bach’s Cantata Nach dir, Herr, verlanget mich which is available to watch on YouTube below.