Royal Leamington Spa Bach Choir

On Saturday May 16th, seventeen singers and four orchestral players from RLSBC, plus Jim Bate (our MD), took part in a performance of Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 in Coventry Cathedral. Helen Morten describes what it was like to be part of this very special project:

My first experience of this wonderful symphony was over forty years ago, but I have never forgotten its power, energy and unbelievably beautiful, tranquil moments evoking Goethe’s forest. Last week, Joe Davies (conductor) and Laura Baillie (chorus master) brought these magical memories back to life for me.

After a demanding schedule of rehearsals, we performed to a sell-out audience of 750, with 500 musicians on stage: 100 players, seven choirs, two children’s choirs and eight soloists. The stunning stained-glass windows of the Cathedral and the ethereal etching of St Michael in the West Window formed a dramatic backdrop to the conductor.

Mahler 8 is demanding for everyone involved, and as choral members we had to raise our game quickly. The speed of passages such as “Gloria sit gloria” was staggering and earned a private round of applause in the sopranos once we’d mastered it. Joe and Laura’s highly effective rehearsal techniques, getting us to speak the text to rhythm, focussed us on diction and rhythmic precision.

The Leamington Sinfonietta was truly inspirational, particularly in the sublime adagio of Part II and in the final movement, where the dynamic journey from piano to molto fortissimo realised Mahler’s transcendent vision. The soloists were glorious, negotiating the extremes of their ranges with great beauty. Above all, it was the collaborative spirit of the whole project - children and elderly singers alike sharing in the creation of such music, led by three remarkable young musicians (Joe, Laura and Jim) - that made this experience unforgettable.