Sydney Chamber Choir’s Saint Nicolas voyage triumphs with all hands on deck

THE idea for the latest Sydney Chamber Choir concert, culminating in Benjamin Britten’s cantata Saint Nicolas, came to life round a dinner table.

The Sydney Chamber Choir performed Benjamin Britten’s cantata Saint Nicolas in their latest concert. Picture: Craig Wilson

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THE idea for the latest Sydney Chamber Choir concert of five works, culminating in Benjamin Britten’s marvellous cantata Saint Nicolas, came to life round the dinner table of the choir’s musical director Richard Gill.

Unfortunately health reasons forced him to step aside from conducting the performance in the Great Hall at Sydney University, but the afternoon could not have been in better hands than those of guest conductor Brett Weymark.

Conductor Brett Weymark in rehearsal for Benjamin Britten's Saint Nicholas.

In fact the substitution added an extra dimension as Weymark, who is artistic director of Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, sang the title role of Saint Nicolas as a 19-year-old student in the same hall — a performance which set him on the road to becoming a full-time musician.

Britten composed the work in 1948 for the centenary of Lancing College in Sussex, where his lifelong partner the tenor Peter Pears had been a student and for which Nicolas was the patron saint.

DEMOCRATIC

The story here is far removed from our view of Santa Claus, however, and is based on exaggerated legends and miracles associated with the historical figure who was born in modern-day Turkey, was imprisoned by the Romans for his Christian beliefs and who, as a bishop, attended the Council of Nicaea in 325.

It includes a dramatic storm at sea and bringing back to life three boys who were abducted, murdered and pickled and ready to be eaten.

Britten composed it for double choir (including children), strings, piano, organ and percussion and to demonstrate his democratic approach to music stipulated that only the tenor lead and the percussionists should be professionals. He also fostered the community spirit by including two hymns for the audience to join in.

The work was given a rousing and inspiring performance in the splendid gothic-style hall with the late winter sun filtering in through stained windows as we all stood to sing the Old One Hundredth.

English-born tenor Richard Butler was perfectly suited to the lead role and the SCC was on top form.

The first half featured four works covering 500 years of choral singing, starting with the plainchant Ave, generosa by Hildegard of Bingen, followed by a delightful short unaccompanied motet, Dixit Maria, by 16th century German composer Hans Leo Hassler and ending with works by two Baroque giants in J.S. Bach and Dietrich Buxtehude.

A big shout should go out to the 70 or so student choristers from the NSW Public Schools Singers and Santa Sabina Chamber Choir, not to forget the NSW Public Percussion Ensemble — David Lockeridge, Ruari Campbell and Saskia Shearer — who provided sterling support in both halves.

DETAILS:

● CONCERT: Britten’s St Nicholas, Sydney Chamber Choir

● WHERE: Great Hall, Sydney University

● WHEN: Sunday, July 23