The Review - CLASSICAL & JAZZ Published: 9 April 2009
Anita Probert
Requiem soloists make it a family affair
REVIEW: MOZART REQUIEM
Cholmeley Choral Society/ St Mary Brookfield
IT'S not every day that a family provides more than one soloist in a concert of choral music. Two every now and then, for sure, but three is a rarity indeed. But three members of the talented Probert family of Highgate did just that, filling the roles of soloists at the Cholmeley Choral Society’s performance of Mozart’s Requiem at St Mary Brookfield, Dartmouth Park Hill on Saturday.
Anita Probert, the Highgate musician and piano teacher and the society’s accompanist for the past four years, sang her first solo with the choir, tackling the difficult alto part with gusto.
Her husband Michael Probert, a semi-professional singer with church choirs and a supporter of Anita in entertainment performances, made full use of his rich, deep voice as the bass soloist.
But it was Sarah Probert, their daughter, who stole the limelight as soprano soloist, making her sixth appearance with the choir.
That’s not surprising as Sarah is an experienced professional singer, as became apparent in her elegant, well-phrased singing that longingly lingered round the aisles of the church.
Conductor Tec Fawcett marshalled the choir as well as he could. The choir’s potential abilities imbued some of the unison singing but its weaknesses were apparent in the fugues.
Strong support came from flawless playing by the orchestra.
* The choir meets on Wednesday evenings during term time at Highgate Junior School; summer term rehearsals for a selection of pieces start on Wednesday April 22. The choir welcomes new members and there is no audition. Further information from Tec Fawcett on 020 8340 6820.
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