Camerata Chamber Choir

Reviews 

Choir produces moments of true elation

Isle of Wight County Press - October 21, 2011

By Mark Patterson 

They are a much-admired amateur choir brought together by their inspiring and talented musical director Jurgita Hayward, who is not only their conductor but physically part of the dramatic impact of their music.
Their concert was essentially the same as the recently reviewed performance but they replaced Durufle with Bach and this was very special.
Their male numbers had been increased and this showed in balance and projection, particularly in the O Salutaris Hostia by Miskinis, and their enthusiastic approach to music by Bob Chilcott and Eric Whitacre was impressive.
I particularly liked the Hebrew Love Songs and wondered if the choir had any idea of the meaning, given they were written in Sephardic Hebrew, which is not a usual form, given the predominance of Ashkenazy Hebrew overall.
Their familiarity with the contemporary work of Karl Jenkins shows and, as a previous reviewer remarked, has moments of true elation in Now My Life is Only Weeping and Ave Verum along with Pie Jesu. But And the Mother did Weep was not rescued from the obscurity it deserves.
It was a very good evening indeed.
Leukaemia Research was helped again by the stirring concert given by the Camerata Chamber Choir at Wolverton Manor last Saturday.

Choir on song for 9/ 11

Isle of Wight County Press - September 23, 2011

By Edward Moore

Marking the tenth anniversary of the events of 9/11, the Camerata Chamber Choir joined ensembles the world over in presenting a concert of contemporary choral music as part of the Global Sing for Peace initiative.
St Catherine’s Church, Ventnor, is becoming well known as a concert venue, and not without good reason; it was an ideal setting for a concert of this scale.
The 14-strong choir has been in existence for 19 months, and in that time they have developed a distinctive sound. At times, their general musicality and sympathetic phrasing was second-to-none. Admittedly, the concert opened with a somewhat unsure performance of Duruflé’s well-known motet Ubi Caritas, which did not bode especially well for the remaining pieces, but once on the rather more familiar territory of Bob Chilcott’s choral works, the performers relaxed and began to produce some excellent sounds.
The slight numerical imbalance between the ladies and gentlemen was occasionally evident, particularly in the enormously complex O Salutaris Hostia by Vytautus Miskinis (a quick peek at the score during the interval revealed many split parts, a tall order with only three gentlemen on each part, and textural writing as dense as it was!), but director Jurgita Hayward guided the ensemble through difficult passages with some of the most elegant, precise and effective conducting an amateur ensemble is ever likely to be lucky enough to receive; perhaps something the lower parts may like to bear in mind, as it felt a lack of watching very occasionally deprived good performances of the polish required to make them excellent.
The second half was exclusively music by the Welsh (and living) composer Karl Jenkins. His Mass for Peace — The Armed Man formed the centrepiece of the entire Global Sing for Peace initiative, and the movements from it were well sung, the gentlemen particularly demonstrating their innate musicality and potential. From his 'Stabat Mater’ came three movements, excellent examples of Jenkins at his best, and worst. The excellent 'Now My Life is Only Weeping’ was truly moving – the alto soloist captivating the audience with her chocolaty tone and genuinely pained musical expression. Conversely, Hayward did her best to rescue the truly dreadful 'classical chillout’ favourite 'And the Mother did Weep’ from its fate as an instantly forgettable six minute indulgence, but, alas, failed – this was, crucially, the music’s fault, not the choir’s. The final two pieces – 'Ave Verum’ and the 'Pie Jesu’ from Jenkins’ 'Requiem’ were excellently performed, and rounded off what was an enormously enjoyable concert. This choir shows a huge amount of potential, and under the inspired leadership of Jurgita Hayward, there is little doubt that they will achieve it; if they exploit their distinctive sound and specialise in contemporary choral music, the Island will have an ensemble to get excited about.

http://www.iwcp.co.uk/news/music/choir-song-for-911-40850.aspx

Choir cross to Abbey Road

Isle of Wight County Press - July 1, 2011

By Matt White 

The iconic Abbey Road studios have played host to an Island choir, as the group recorded on the latest album by renowned composer Karl Jenkins.

Camerata Choir were invited to the famous studios to take part in the recording of The Peacemakers. It followed their successful performance of Mr Jenkins's composition, Stabat Mater, at All Saints Church, Ryde, earlier this year.

The choir had a meeting with the composer, where they spoke to him about their performance and admiration of his work. Choir member Nikki Wright described it as a tremendous experience.

The choir's next Island date is September 17 at St Catherine's Church, Ventnor, when they will perform music by Mr Jenkins, as well as other contemporary and classical composers. The choir plan to perform The Peacemakers to an Island audience in the near future.

Ovation for ancient and modern

By Godfrey Bruce - Radcliffe

A standing ovation rewarded the Island's Camerata Chamber Choir and the Chamber Ensemble, formed from members of the IW Symphony Orchestra, on Saturday.

It followed their performance of Karl Jenkins' Stabat Mater, conducted by Jurgita Hayward, at All Saints' Church, Ryde, featuring soloist mezzo-soprano Jurgita Adamonyte.

Camerata formed just over a year ago, and has played to growing acclaim, but this was  the first time  I had heard them.

The programme opened with Miskinis's O Salutaris Hostia, perhaps a brave choice for an opening piece but its complexity was precisely and sensitively executed.

Hayward's authority over the performance was firmly established.

A particularly nice touch was individual members of the choir introducing each of the shorter pieces, which ended with J.S. Bach's motet Jesu, meine  Freude, thus reminding the audience that the choir's repertoire is not confined to modern music.

Jurgita Adamonyte then sang the aria Vergnunte Ruh, beliebte Seelenlust  from Bach's cantata BWV 170, accompanied by Michele Brock.

And so to the main work of the evening, Stabat Mater, a 13th century poem about mother of Christ, standing at the cross, which has been  set  to music by many composers.

Some of the ethnic material was sung at Ryde, sumptuosly and meticulously of course, by Adamonyte, but the Incantation was sung by choir member Bryony Rust.

At first I assumed she was a planted professional, but not a bit of it. Bryony let her emotions run free and made the music her own.

Neither can the orchestra go without mention. Stabat Mater gives special prominence to the oboe, played at Ryde by Helen McQueen.

The performance was recorded and filmed and should become available in due course via the Camerata Chamber Choir website. 

Celebrated prayer

http://www.iwcp.co.uk/news/music/celebrated-prayer-37883.aspx

Postponed carol concert a success

A rescheduled Christmas concert went according to plan in East Cowes on Sunday.
The Camerata Chamber Choir had just a week to find an alternative venue after the original concert at Newport Minster, due to be held a week before, was cancelled because of bad weather.
The event was transferred to East Cowes Methodist Church, where the choir performed traditional hymns and Christmas carols.
"It went very well considering we didn’t have much time so we were really pleased," said musical director Jurgita Hayward.
The choir, which formed in March, has 14 members, both men and women, aged between 27 and 60. It is currently looking for a pianist and anyone interested can contact Jurgita on 299025. Rehearsals are held on Thursday evenings at St John’s Church, Newport.

http://www.iwcp.co.uk/news/music/postponed-carol-concert-a-success-36376.aspx

Vibrant choir created from blend of voices  

Isle of Wight County Press - November 12, 2010

By Oswald Hoskyns

When I was told that the programme to be sung by the recently formed chamber choir Camerata was all contemporary music my heart sank.  But by the time they were singing the last item I was wanting more.

The group's Lithuanian leader, Jurgita Hayward, had chosen material that was modern, varied and easy on the ear. Pieces by Karl Jenkins, John Rutter and ex-Kings Singer Bob Chilcott were thrillingly finished off by a couple of numbers by an American, Christopher Tin.

The programme was enhanced by a jazz trio, who supported the singers in various numbers.  The exciting (and complicated) international rhythms were confidently played.  I really was on the edge of my seat throughout the concert.

The decorous Ms Hayward had her 12 singers in the palm of her hand.  The men's singing was crisp and accurate.  The voices of the girls in the creamy alto line were captivating.

The blending of voices in the quiet passages was a rare treat in these days of strident celebrity singers.

Unfortunately the  prominence of one of the sopranos in the louder bits distracted one from the overall balance but that same soprano sang a couple of solos that transported me at once to Andalucia and later to the plains of East Africa just by her clever timbre and exquisite diction.  Other solo voices were sweet and clear.

In an age  of declining numbers of young people joining choirs, this new group  bucks the trend and anyone fortunate enough to hear them will be invigorated by the experience, as I was.

Camerata are performing again at Newport Minster on Saturday 4 December at 7pm and I thoroughly recommend that you go to listen to a vibrant, disciplined choir that has the potential to be the best ensemble on the Island.

Rich harmonies show choir at its versatile best

Isle of Wight County Press - October 8, 2010

By Simon Dixey

The Camerata Chamber Choir, under the direction of Jurgita Hayward, has been together since February this year.
This concert, given on a wet and windy evening at Wolverton Manor, is its second full programme. Accompanying the choir were Michele Brock on the piano, Alison Seal on double bass and Jamie Woodford on drums.
The choir’s first piece, Esurientes from John Rutter’s Magnificat, starts with an unaccompanied soprano line. Soloist Helen Pascoe took on this challenge, showing only the slightest trace of nerves. The whole choir gave Rutter’s flowing melody and rich harmonies a very pleasing performance.
Bob Chilcott’s A Little Jazz Mass brought a change of mood — four miniature arrangements from the traditional mass with styles ranging from the 'real groove’ of the Kyrie to the bluesy Agnus Dei.
A lilting, reflective setting by Karl Jenkins of the Ave Verum was followed by another Bob Chilcott piece, The Lily and the Rose. This last piece, a favourite of the choir, was beautifully sung to end the first half of the concert.
Jurgita Hayward has a flowing but precise style of conducting, which commands the close attention of her vocalists. It is clear the whole choir has put much thought into how to communicate music to the audience.
After the interval, we heard Four Jazz Folk Songs, again Bob Chilcott arrangements followed by two sections from the song cycle Calling All Dawns by the American composer Christopher Tin. Baba Yetu, a setting of The Lord’s Prayer in Swahili, produced the only obvious unsteady moment, which was soon recovered. Kia Hora, a Maori blessing, concluded the evening.

 http://www.iwcp.co.uk/news/music/rich-harmonies-show-choir-at-its-versatile-best-35151.aspx