Concerts given by the Lynn Festival Chorus are always special, and their most recent one was no exception, featuring Benjamin Britten’s popular dramatic cantata Saint Nicolas, and the not-so-well-known, but joyous, Magnificat by John Rutter.

Both works were performed with precision and enthusiasm by the chorus and interpreted with authority by conductor Ben Horden, and accompanied with style by The British Sinfonietta at Lynn Minster Church. Praise must also go to the excellent soloists: Guy Elliott, tenor and delightful treble, Bridget Baker, in Saint Nicholas, which enables amateurs and professionals to participate in the work. Even the audience is able to join in with the performance of hymns included in the piece. The full audience at the concert did play their part.

I was pleased to hear the performance of John Rutter’s Magnificat, a choral gem, in my view, and not known previously by me. I certainly agree with Ben Horden’s assessment of it: ‘a joyful and uplifting celebration of the Virgin Mary’. The work was premiered in May 1990 in New York’s Carnegie Hall, and I especially enjoyed the influence of Spanish, Mexican and Puerto Rican celebratory music in parts of the piece. Canadian Soprano Soloist Rachel Allen, who stood in for indisposed Bethany Seymour, gave a commanding rendering of her part, and soloists, chorus, conductor, and orchestra gave their best in both of these choral masterpieces.

– Andy Tyler, Lynn News