The Rosenethe Singers were formed fifty years ago, starting out as a small chamber choir which, under the guidance of various dedicated and demanding conductors, has grown into the polished, confident choir we hear in 2014.

 

For the 50th anniversary concert the choir, under its present conductor Matthew Beetschen, chose to perform Edward Elgar’s setting of Cardinal Newman’s poem “The Dream of Gerontius”, and the ancient cathedral of Dunblane was the ideal space for this work, both visually and acoustically.

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From the quiet mysterious opening of the Prelude through to the final hushed Amen, the large attentive audience was held by the drama of the Soul’s journey, and all credit is due to the choir, soloists and orchestra who all performed with power and sincerity.

 

The choral writing poses huge demands, going from simple chorale settings to double choruses and contrapuntal passages. The Rosenethe Singers rose to the challenge, producing some lovely lyrical singing as well as coping with the harshness of the Demon’s chorus, and all with excellent diction.