Our most recent concert
Superb....so good to hear such a really well blended choir
The Palestrina was sung in such a prayerful way. Like hearing it sung in a Mass. The choir sang it completely without ego - as it should be sung. Truly spiritual.
Review of the concert by Andy Tyler published in the Lynn News 18/11/2025
In just half a dozen years or so The Guildhall Singers, formed in 2019 by Helen Herbert, have become a trusted and popular chamber choir, based here in West Norfolk and have explored music of an intimate nature, attracting enthusiastic audiences as was the case in its most recent concert, ‘The Glory of the Renaissance’ held at All Saints Church, Hillington Square, Lynn.
A nicely contrasted concert included one work by G.P. da Palestrina ( 1525-1594), in its first half, a complete performance of his Missa Papae Marcelli, a work where no element of the music dominates, and we enjoyed a clear, well-balanced performance of the piece. A very satisfying musical experience.
After the interval, secular and popular madrigals were performed by composers Orazio Vecchi (1550-1605), Jacques Arcadelt (1507-1568), and some better-known composers: Thomas Morley (1557-1602), Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625), and John Dowland (1563-1626). The subject matter of the pieces is often of love and loss, some lively, some much more reflective. Thomas Morley’s popular ‘Now is the month of Maying’ is based on one of Vecchi’s madrigals. I was pleased Orlando Gibbon’s moving piece ‘The Silver Swan’ was included - a favourite of mine!
Thanks, of course, go to music director Andres Hernandez-Salazar for his confident and inspiring leadership of this excellent local chamber choir. The varied character of the pieces is well conveyed. We look forward to the choir’s next concert at St Faith’s Church, Gaywood, on Sunday, December 14, 6pm.
Concert Archive
