The Chamber Choir, joined by choir alumni and staff, began the summer term with a visit to St. Paul’s Cathedral, where selected visiting choirs deputise for the renowned cathedral choir during their holidays, singing choral evensong to the hundreds of visitors received by the cathedral each day, congregated under the magnificent 17th century dome designed by Sir Christopher Wren. The choir’s programme of responses and canticles by Joanna Forbes-L’Estrange, with the anthem ‘Rise Up My Love’ by Healey Willan for the season of Easter, were fitting choices for the choir and congregation to enjoy the cathedral’s famous acoustic, which caused the impressive sound of the choir and organ to continue echoing around the building during the dramatic general pauses heard in each of the works. The cathedral’s canons (resident members of the clergy) were impressed by the choir’s singing, reflected in their warm welcome, generous compliments and invitation to return sooner next time, which no doubt the choir will do.
