Large audience delighted by these varied pieces
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Vox Populi. The Bells of Paradise. Performed at Holy Trinity Church, Leamington Spa, Saturday 21 March 2026.
Review by Charles Essex.
Vox Populi thrilled an almost full audience at Holy Trinity Church in Leamington with four varied pieces that continue to demonstrate Harvey Brough’s community choir’s versatility and talent.
The first half featured two of Fauré’s pieces. Cantique de Jean Racine, written by Fauré when he was only 19 years old, was for strings and organ. The choir, accompanied by a harp, keyboard and strings of the prestigious Orchestra of the Swan, built on the melodies with different voices, giving body to the harp’s phrases, superbly played by Rita Schindler.
Sandwiched in between the second Fauré piece was Incantation of Eden, a collaboration between librettist Justin Butcher and Harvey writing the music. Starting almost as an acapella with a single note from the keyboard, the choir movingly give a personalised account of life in the Garden of Eden and the Creation story, from the point of view of God, Adam and Eve. Once again, the harp was prominent, giving a simple but wonderfully evocative rendition of the pitter-patter of raindrops.
The choir perfectly accompanied delightful performances by bass Jonathan Sampson and soprano Molly O’Toole as the interplay of their parts echoed and mirrored each other and the story. The growing tension and energy was palpable as the story approached the Fall, with the plaintiff cry to remember the lost Garden.
Fauré’s Requiem in D Minor is popular and familiar work which complemented the previous pieces. Consisting of seven movements, the sombre bass opening was emphasised by Claire Whitson on double bass. The mood became lighter in the third movement Sanctus, followed by Molly’s very clean precise soprano with a remarkable purity of sound in Pie Jesu.
The bass notes of Libera Me, mournfully pleading to be freed from eternal death, are countered by the joyful optimistic finale In Paradisum.
After the interval, was a remarkable piece The Prophet. Harvey had taken the words of the novel of the same name by Lebanese author Khalil Gibran and set an edited version to music. Consisting of eight movements, this tale tells of a sailor reaching a distant land and a series of quasi-biblical truths, with axioms similar to the Book of Proverbs. The orchestra added classical guitar, percussion and brass.
The choir was joined by soloist soprano Kate Brook, whose voice had an amazing sultry quality which gave emotional depth to the interplay between the characters in the story. Once again, Rita on the harp perfectly evoked a mood with a plucked single note to convey the falling of tear drops
On Giving had a much more upbeat tempo and On Pleasure was a joyous piece, with an energetic full on jazz rhythm, echoed in the following piece On Reason and Passion. On Death cleverly had a tubular bell sounding the death knell at the start and finish.
Harvey marvellously condensed four pieces into the two hour programme and the audience was clearly thoroughly delighted. Vox Populi has gained a large and loyal following after only four concerts such is the quality of their performances.
The next Vox Populi concert will be on 12 July 2026 and will be folk songs and protest songs, showing the terrific versatility of the choir under Harvey’s wonderfully skilled musicianship. Rehearsals start after Easter in Holy Trinity Church on Thursdays at 7 pm and new members are welcome.
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