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Walton's Feast Wows Gloucester Cathedral
26 Jul
Summary
- Festival Chorus's rendition of Belshazzar's Feast earned high praise.
- Gavin Higgins' Fanfare Americana opened the concert with energetic brass.
- Elgar's First Symphony provided a classical counterpoint to the modern works.
Gloucester Cathedral echoed with powerful performances at the Three Choirs festival's opening concert. The 141-strong Festival Chorus triumphed with William Walton's Belshazzar's Feast, a piece once deemed too provocative for performance.
Opening the evening was the UK premiere of Gavin Higgins' Fanfare Americana, a lively composition met with enthusiastic applause. The Philharmonia Orchestra, under Adrian Partington, then presented a spirited rendition of Elgar's First Symphony.
However, the true highlight was the Festival Chorus's masterful delivery of Walton's cantata. Their exceptional discipline, clear diction, and impressive blend of voices shone through, particularly in the male voices' forceful opening and the poignant "by the waters of Babylon" section. Baritone soloist David Stout added theatrical flair and deep humanity to the performance, culminating in a thunderous finale.
