Our concluding Summer School Concert played to an enthusiastic capacity audience in Keble College Chapel.
13–18 August 2024
THE 10th TRBC SUMMER SCHOOL
Keble College, Oxford
TRBC’s Keble Summer School brought to a close a decade of successful August singing weeks. For our tenth and final Summer School we realised a long-cherished dream of performing Bach’s B minor Mass. Even without the Creed this was going to be a challenge, but the end result was little short of magnificent.
Our first rehearsal on Tuesday evening was somewhat tentative. From then on, the 140-strong choir made steady progress with Bach’s exacting vocal lines under the encouraging direction of TRBC Principal Conductor Brian Kay. Early-morning warm-ups directed by repetiteur Chris Finch attracted full attendance, consequently ensuring everyone’s voices were in good shape for the twice-daily rehearsals.
The rehearsal space was rather dry: Brian wisely suggested decamping to Keble’s reverberant chapel for Friday afternoon’s final piano rehearsal. This enabled us to adjust to the very different acoustic, with the brakes judiciously applied to some of the faster tempi. Come Saturday’s tutti rehearsal with orchestra and soloists, we had all settled into the feel of the building. The stylish ensemble and solo playing of the St Cecilia Players (leader Anna Curzon) lifted the performance to a new level, coupled with our four vocal soloists (soprano Harriet Burns, countertenor Tom Lilburn, tenor Sebastian Hill and bass-baritone Ossian Huskinson) who displayed bravura technique and fine musicianship throughout.
Overall, the performance was a triumph. As the echo of the final chord of the Dona nobis pacem died away, no-one moved for a full minute before the capacity audience broke into enthusiastic applause. Brian Kay commented: ‘The achievement of our tenth Summer School was astonishing. A testament to the incomparable power of Bach’s music, of course, but also to the fact that so many of our regular singers joined us with a real desire to make this final year work. We were ready – as a unit – to go for the greatest and have the best time. I still can’t quite believe how well the choir sang, particularly after the usual ‘blues’ following the initial Tuesday rehearsal. We were uplifted in performance by the sheer brilliance of the orchestra sounds, and by the ideal acoustic and atmosphere of Keble’s chapel. The week will remain long in the memory. ’
Away from the singing, we enjoyed a fascinating evening with Brian Kay in conversation with Dame Jane Glover. She talked about her early transition from academic to performer and about breaking into the male-dominated world of conducting in the 1970s. She also introduced us to her latest book, Mozart in Italy, as well as other books on Mozart and Handel. Thursday’s damp weather drove our barbecue indoors, but the sun shone for drinks and canapés in the quad on Friday. Sadly, a family emergency prevented Annie Hastings from being with us; she was greatly missed by her many TRBC friends.
Click here to view photos taken during the week (opens in a new tab/window).
Our singers were warm in their praise:
‘Thank you for everything you have done for the Summer Schools. I have loved every moment, being with everyone and learning new music. You have made it all such fun.’ Judy P.
‘I am still on a high after Saturday’s performance – the same feeling when I first sang the work in 1966 as a new member of the Birmingham Bach Choir under my great mentor Roy Massey.’ John V.
‘Even if it was very hard work, I had a fantastic time and learnt lots. Singing alongside instruments the like of which I had never seen before was unforgettable!’ Alexandra N
‘Thanks to the TTRBC team for organising and running yet another absolutely brilliant Summer School. You made the experience for the singers something that I, and I’m sure the rest of the singers, will not forget for a very long time.’ Jim M
‘A truly wonderful Summer School.’ (Susan B.)
The week gave us wonderful music, superb musicianship from our professionals, good food and friendship and a perfect setting. TRBC’s Keble Summer School proved a fitting end to ten glorious years of August music making.