Re: Dorchester Abbey, Dorchester on the Thames

[lyndsey]

Wish I was there! Enjoy yourselves and give Nick a hug from me too! x

[Sarah]

This concert was amazing, I don't think I have ever heard anything quite like it before in my life!

The Orchestra of St.John's along with the OSJ Choir sang as part of the Music in the Abbey Festival at Dorchester Abbey with Sally Matthews and Nick. The village of Dorchester was very picturesque (you americans would call it quaint) and the Abbey itself was simply beautiful.After arriving at our hotel a little early, Kate & I decided to drive the 10 miles into Dorchester to find the abbey and have a look around before the concert. We were walking around the grounds and could hear the most incredible music coming from inside. We just stood in silence and listened. The village itself is quite small and we couldn't hear a single noise other than the singing and a few birds in the trees, it was really beautiful. As we walked around to the front, we met another couple with a small child and were beckoned inside by a steward who said we could look around as the choir were "just rehearsing" for a concert tonight. We walked in and almost imediately spotted a familiar figure (even though he had his back to us) in a black t-shirt and jeans.Not wishing to interrupt him, we walked quietly around the church and the couple we came in with pointed out some interesting memorial stones,explaining that one of them was said to be about the ghost of the abbey. We stood and listened for a few minutes and then went to leave. As we walked up the aisle to the door I was aware of someone walking parallel to me in the other aisle, I glanced over to see Nick and so gave a quick wave. He caught up with us at the door and we stood and spoke for a few minutes. He hadn't yet rehearsed his part but told us to hang around as the choir were brilliant and the acoustics were just right for this type of music. He also rated the soprano Sally Matthews very highly and said he was sure we would enjoy the performance tonight.

We stayed for a little while longer but didn't stay for Nick or sally's rehearsals.Nick was right though, we did enjoy every minute of the concert. Kate & I discussed afterwards whether we had enjoyed it because he said we would or because he knows what we like and knew we would enjoy it. We think it is probably the latter as we had already heard the choir before seeing Nick and decided they were incredible, but Nick had been right and we did enjoy it. There have been concerts of Nick's we have been to where we didn't enjoy certain elements (not related to Nick) and afterwards Nick would say that the singer hadn't been on top form or that he didn't think we would enjoy it and again was right.

I don't know if I can sufficiently describe how amazing the choir was. Nick didn't actually perform until the last song in the 2nd half and yet by the 2nd song in the programme, we were so entranced by the singing that we almost forgot why we were there. The motets by Stanford were all sung A Capella and yet I was so caught up in the sound of the choir I didn't actually notice that the orchestra weren't playing - that may sound strange but it really is difficult to describe. I particularly liked Justorum animae and Beati quorum via which seemed so fitting to be performed in the abbey and were complimented by the acoustics. Another favourite was the Bluebird by Stafford again sung a Capella with one soprano voice mimicking that of the bird. It was a lovely floaty song - simply breathtaking.

Nick performed part of Brahms' Ein deutsches Requiem and sounded absolutely incredible. The Orchestra and choir really complimented his voice, which was on top form and he really sang his heart out and expressed the tone and feeling of the piece really well.You were blown away by the whole programme and it was nice to see Nick performing with such a professional orchestra and choir. For me, whenever I go to see Nick perform, he is always the hi-light and best performer, but this time it wasn't the same. That's not to say that Nick didn't give an amazing performance but rather that the choir and orchestra were also of such a high standard that they were all on an equal par.

Nick came and chatted to us at the end of the concert and I think I was lost for words as I was still so overwhelmed from the concert. Nick said he had really enjoyed it too and we had noticed how most of the time he was sat with his eyes closed, lost in the music, occasionally swaying his head in time or nodding with approval. Nick I should also mention, looked "well fit" in his white bow tie and tails and still with a little bit of a tan from his holidays. He had been deeply chuffed and somewhat embarressed when someone said they thought he was "well fit" so of course we're going to tease him with that for a while now.

I would really recommend the Orchestra of St. Johns and the Orchestra of St. John's Choir. If you do ever have the opportunity to hear them, you should go along. 10/10

[sweetormiger]

Thank you Sarah, really wish I could have heard it!
Glad you and Kate could make it and really am glad you took the time to tell us about it.

[lyndsey]

Sounds like a brilliant concert. Did you get any pictures? x

[serendipity]

Thanks Sarah, I really enjoyed reading your review...sounded heavenly.

[Sarah]

Kathy, it really was heavenly, that's a good way to describe it.

Lynz we didn't get any pictures sorry. I had taken my camera to get some shots of the Abbey and then got sidetracked by the sound of the choir. The interior of the Abbey was very beautiful but it didn't seem right to take pictures in there. So sorry ladies, no pictures of the Abbey or Nick.
If any of you are on Facebook, go to the St.John's Orchestra page as they have some photos and video clips of the night (they don't include Nick though)