Review: Ex-Cathedra at The Birmingham Oratory

Oct 19 2009 By Maggie Cotton

One suspects few choirs would be brave enough to celebrate 40 years of innovative music-making with a concert of 26 works covering 1,000 years of sacred music.

This is no ordinary group of singers however, but Birmingham’s very own internationally-recognised and unique Ex Cathedra, inspired and directed throughout by Jeffrey Skidmore.

Over the years we have been privileged to hear many previously undiscovered gems, sacred and secular music from all periods and drawn from world-wide sources. This, the first concert of the 40th Anniversary Season, ranged from ninth century plain-chant to a fine work by the youngest member of the choir, 16-year-old Patrick Dunachie. Five other contemporary composers were also featured including an uplifting miniature by Birmingham’s own distinguished John Joubert.

Uninterrupted by applause, the distinctions between offerings were at times deliciously acute. Fulsome Poulenc rubbed shoulders with following plain-chant, beautifully shaped by female voices only. Ancient Inca language delivered the Apostle’s Creed with lilting rhythms highlighting lyrics from 1598, this contrasting with further melting emotion and beautiful vocal balance from Latin America.

Whether singing familiar settings to well-loved words or creating mind-teasing modern works these singers are always convincingly involved with their presentation. Stainer’s God So Loved the World was a joy, with immaculate clean entries and breathtaking diminuendos. Dark, thick organ texture was provided by Andrew Fletcher for dramatic Hosannas from MacMillan’s Mass, with a further thought-provoking soprano soloist from within the choir to enchant with delicate high traceries in his Christus Vincit.

A lusty rendering of Jerusalem was enjoyed with full audience participation, but less so in the setting of the Lord’s prayer, where deciphering ancient musical notation proved somewhat challenging.

Rating: 5/5