Exeter Philharmonic Choir members step up for Solomon solos
Three members of Exeter Philharmonic's one-hundred-strong choir are stepping out of their ‘comfort zone’ and into the spotlight as soloists at the Choir’s forthcoming concert in March, Handel’s Solomon.
Exeter Philharmonic Choir always performs with professional soloists and musicians, and its Lord Mayor’s concert on Saturday, 14 March at Exeter Cathedral will be no different. However, in addition to four stellar professional soloists and the musicians of the Endelienta Orchestra, this performance of Handel’s majestic oratorio will feature special guest appearances by choir members Helen Goode (soprano), Charlotte Moyes (soprano) and Stuart Mole (tenor).
Helen, a secondary school teacher from Exeter who’s been a member of EPC for about four years, says she’s feeling nervous and excited in equal measure. She says, “Singing has always been part of my life. I did a lot of singing at school and sang in the National Youth Choir as a teenager and then all through university. In my 30s and 40s, I didn’t sing in a choir for about ten years and I really missed it. I knew I wanted to join a good choir and this led me to join Exeter Philharmonic Choir after lockdown. It’s wonderful.
“I don’t want to sound too cheesy, but I realised about a year ago that it’s one of the best things in my life. The standard of the choir is really good, Howard (Ionascu) as a conductor is great - the right mix of challenging us and giving criticism or positive feedback - and I absolutely love singing with a group that strives to be excellent.”
Helen adds, “Last year Howard wanted everyone to do a vocal assessment, which he was at pains to stress was not a re-audition! He asked us each to prepare a song and I took something that I hoped would showcase my voice. Afterwards, he told me was brewing an idea to have three choir members sing solos in Solomon, and he asked if I’d be interested. I replied that I’d love to. So, that’s how this exciting opportunity came about.”
Based on a story from the Old Testament, the soloists in Solomon are the characters and story tellers. Helen and fellow soprano Charlotte will ‘face off’ as two women who come before Solomon claiming to be the mother of a baby. To determine the truth, and as proof of his wisdom and ability to discern a situation, Solomon tells them that the fairest thing to do is to divide the child in two and for them to have half each. The real mother finds the idea abhorrent. Helen plays the woman who proves herself not to be the mother because she is happy for the baby to be sliced in half.
High drama, rich orchestration and some of Handel’s most exquisite choral writing combine in this rarely performed masterpiece, including the sparkling ‘Arrival of the Queen of Sheba’, which opens Act III. One of the most recognisable compositions in the Baroque repertoire, this instrumental interlude depicts the grandeur and majesty of the monarch’s arrival, as described in the biblical narrative. However, Handel didn’t give the piece this title; the name is thought to have been popularised in the 20th century and has since become one of Handel’s best-known compositions, played during the opening ceremony of the London Olympic Games.
Exeter Philharmonic Choir is delighted to welcome mezzo-soprano Martha McLorinan as the wise King Solomon, a part that’s traditionally sung by a woman; soprano Amy Carson, doubling as his Queen and the Queen of Sheba; tenor Hugo Hymas as Zadok the Priest; and bass Timothy Dickinson as the Levite. The choir will be singing in eight voice parts, with Endelienta Baroque adding to the rich tapestry of sound.
Book your tickets at www.ticketsource.co.uk/exeterphilchoir
