On Tuesday 3rd December, students from Badminton performed in the annual St George's concert. The programme was musically diverse, including romantic masterpieces such as Beethoven's Egmont overture and Schumann's Piano concerto; as well as more modern works by Elgar and Britten.
Over the course of the last few weeks, the performers had been working extremely hard to prepare for this concert. With evening rehearsals twice a week, plus many 'extras' fitting in and around the school timetable, the girls had been showing great motivation and dedication in preparing for this concert. It was promising to be an exciting event, and our rehearsal on the Sunday before the concert was an opportunity to hear all of their hard work really come together, with the performers noticeably 'stepping up a gear'!
The concert on Tuesday evening was extremely well attended, and the performers relished the chance to play to a packed out audience. The concert started with Badminton Orchestra performing Beethoven's Egmont Overture; the dramatic energy that the orchestra conveyed even within the slow introduction was notable, and the piece developed to show off the orchestra's skill at developing sensitive musical phrases and astounding contrasts.
Francesca then took to the stage to perform the first movement of Schumann's Piano Concerto, accompanied by Badminton Orchestra. Her playing was breathtaking, and she demonstrated such skill as a concert pianist. Her musicianship shone through the more technical passages, and the whole concerto demonstrated such sensitivity and mature musicality that most of the audience were left standing during the applause. This concerto is demanding of both the Soloist and Orchestra, and the orchestra should be proud of how well they worked with Francesca. The solo interjections from the principle wind players were of such a high standard and showed off their technique to the full. The strings worked to create such fine balance between accompanying and tutti sections within the piece, and showed great ability in developing the dramatic intent of the piece.
Schola Cantorum then took to the stage and finished the first half with two beautiful songs by Elgar, accompanied by Mr Nash on Piano, and Ms Latham and Ms Fowles on violin. The voices worked with great sensitivity and showed clearly the work that had been put in as the musical lines soared out across St Georges. The subtlety of the quiet sections contrasted so perfectly with the louder, more dramatic high points of the songs that the audience were left quite spellbound. A fitting end to a fantastic first half!
In the second half of the concert, the Audience were treated to Benjamin Britten's Ceremony of Carols – a modern twentieth century piece written for three treble parts and harp. The piece began with the entrance processional song 'Hodie', performed by Schola Cantorum. As the voices began backstage, before making their way slowly through the audience to the front of the concert hall, the piece showed at the start that it would be full of unexpected twists! Schola Cantorum then joined the Year 7's and Senior Choir on stage. The combined choirs showed throughout such engagement with this modern masterpiece, and conveyed so effectively both the poignancy and dramatic natures of the different movements – the energy of the choirs in 'Deo Gratias' really was so exciting to hear! The solo harp interlude in the middle of this work, played by Ms Dibble, showed off yet more character within the Ceremony of Carols, with Schola Cantorum singing the recessional 'Hodie' to close the concert. Thanks must be given to soloists Catherine, Rosie, Cherie, Claire, and Hazel, all of whom gave such high quality performances.
Our thanks to all performers. You have all worked so hard, and the music department have been left truly impressed by both your professionalism throughout this outstanding evening, and from the absolutely exceptional performance that you gave. You should all be incredibly proud.
