Tritone Singers excelled themselves last month when they sang to a capacity audience in Christ Church Totland.
The concert was dedicated to the memory of Robin Lang who formerly sang tenor with the choir and also played cello with the Isle of Wight Symphony Orchestra.
Memorials can be painful occasions but in this case it was tempered by the sensitive and nuanced performances of both the choir and the guest cello soloist Guido Martin-Brandis. A professional cellist who also directs a small opera company and performs with a group called ‘The Massive Violins’ who play and sing!
The music ranged from the more reflective with compositions which included the ‘Geistliches Lied’ of Brahms, Robin’ favourite composer, to moments of joy in the settings of poems by Robert Bridges composed by Gerald Finzi. The versatility shown by the choir especially with the dynamics was wonderful.
It was also very moving to hear ‘The Swan’ by Saint-Saens played on Robin’s own cello and the ‘Beatus Vir’ of Monteverdi which was ably accompanied by a small string ensemble.
Robin spent his life and work in nature which may have inspired his mother, Judith Lang, to write a poem entitled ‘Call of Summer’. This poem has been beautifully set to music by the musical director Richard Wilkins and we were privileged to hear the premier during the evening. The way the cello interwove with the choir was very moving and I am sure this will not be the last time it is performed.
The whole evening on Saturday 22nd March was a fitting musical memorial for someone much loved by family and friends.
A donation to 2 charities – Water Aid and UNICEF – will be made from the proceeds of the concert.
The following theatre review was written by Sara Gunter.
