THE FIDELIO SINGERS

THE FIDELIO SINGERS

lunchtime concert at Chelmsford Cathedral

22.02.12

The ladies of the "Fids", resplendent in a rainbow of gowns, brought "The Colours of My Life" to Chelmsford Cathedral last Friday lunchtime.

Their style is old-fashioned, perhaps, but their musicianship, under their founder/conductor Margaret Cozens, is exemplary. And the largely silver-haired regulars would certainly not object to echoes of Sing Something Simple, or even Grand Hotel.

The programme – a classic compilation for this choir – was cleverly conceived, with, thankfully, no introductions; it led us down the "rainbow highway" from Parry and Stanford to Rutter and Arlen. And Sting.

Among many delights, Wordsworth set by Eric Thiman, performed with superb diction, and a setting of Walter de la Mare's Silver, sung by Louise Colbear. The most impressive solo, perhaps, was a bouncy, bluesy Don't Make My Brown Eyes Blue, from Hilary Pell.

An Ivor Novello duet, an a capella Autumn Leaves, and a lovely Blue Skies and Rainbows sequence, ending in a wonderful setting of another De la Mare by the choir's regular arranger Neil Cleary. At the piano was Janet Walker.