Cantorelli Sings

Reporter: Dr Joe Dawson
Date online: 12/06/2008

One of these seven Yorkshire singers did most of the introductions and she explained that they chose the name Cantorelli because they thought it meant 'little group of singers' but it probably actually means 'group of little singers' - which was partly true.

They handled difficult music individually very well but also had terrific ensemble skills and a highly developed sense of group interpretation and purpose that made for a totally absorbing concert. The acoustics at TOLPAC were once again put to good use.

In Elizabethan times it was the norm for refined people to be able to 'sing a part' and the madrigals, originally brought from Italy, became full of inventive musical relationships that evolved during the performance. As with most chamber music it was for the pleasure of amateur performers themselves rather than presented for an audience.

In the second Elizabethan age The Kings Singers of the 1970s attained mass popularity with a more upbeat approach, but Cantorelli reminded me more of 'I Fagiolini' of the 1990s particularly with 'Chiu la Galiarda' by Da Nola where a scene is enacted in the song, calling on lots of vocal characterisation.

They showed that intelligent performers could bring to life music that had previously been the province of early music specialists.

The middle French of Lassus, Desprez and Passereau and Spanish composers, were full of character so that even if we could not understand the language we knew something was going on.

Six Chansons by twentieth century German composer Hindemith fitted surprisingly well in the tradition. As indeed did pieces by Saint-Saens, Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov, composers not usually associated with the choral music. It was the Eastern European full-throated sound of the Russians that finally broke the mould of the stereotypical madrigal group.

We had beautiful gems from the Golden Age of Elizabeth I, from Tomkins, Wilbye, Weelkes and Byrd and also the second Elizabeth with Richard Rodney Bennett and John Taverner.

The finale was a convincing and moving performance of 'Magnificat' of Estonian composer Arvo Part, before a well-deserved encore.

Definitely worth hearing more of in the future.

The concert was in aid of Springhill Hospice and for one of their late members Neil MacDonald.

For or further information on Cantorelli contact - Peter Tillotson, Wood Farm, Hebden Bridge HX7 6NS; tel 01433

Cantorelli Sings
Toad Lane Performing Arts Centre
5 October 2002