Reviews of English National Ballet at St Paul’s Cathedral 3 July 2012, with choral accompaniment by City Chamber Choir

  • “The programme brought new work, … and the participation of the City Chamber Choir, a fine advocate for the Rutter score and the Fauré Pavane.” Clement Crisp, Financial Times
  • “City Chamber Choir [gave] an exquisite rendition of John Rutter’s Magnificat.” Evening Standard
  • “And the live music from the English National Ballet Orchestra and the City Chamber Choir was truly unbelievable. The acoustics of the string instruments and live choir in the building, sights of the ballet dancers and the backdrop of ornate decor of the interior of the cathedral made it seem like we were sitting in 1600s London. And it was divine.” From April to Table blog
  • “The dancers were ever so graceful and were accompanied by fantastic music by the Orchestra of English National Ballet featuring City Chamber Choir. One of the highlights was during Of A Rose where it featured a solo soprano voice and the 15th century English poem Of a Rose, a Lovely Rose against the backdrop of St Paul’s magnificent altar. What a brilliant evening set in such an historic place with beautiful dance, music and a celebration of art.” Martian Landing blog

‘A whole evening of unaccompanied music of considerable complexity was delivered with panache and elegance.’
Church Times


One of the musical delights of this summer’s music in London was a programme devoted to the choral and piano music of E. J. Moeran … The City Chamber Choir’s splendid choral tone was very apparent … I found a particular enthusiasm from the singing, enhanced by excellent acoustics. Mr Jones is a very fine choral trainer and he knew exactly how to draw out the best of his 24 voices; it is clear he paid a lot of attention to their diction. … I look forward to hearing more of this very talented choir…’
British Music Society News


‘Heward’s is a virtuosic composition for five part choir (SSATB) which further sub-divides into ten parts towards the end. It sounds to make fearsome demands on the singers but Stephen Jones and his choir attack it with relish and do the piece proud.’
Musicweb International


‘… magically sung’
The Independent


‘The second half of the concert was thrilling. After a delightful performance by the City Chamber Choir of Beautiful days by Manchester-born Peter McGarr, singer Catherine Denley and flautist Kenneth Bell joined choir and orchestra in Arthur Bliss’ Pastoral. This was something special! … The soloists, choir and orchestra were all obviously attuned to this music, and they combined to make this a musical experience that I will long remember.’
Pan: the Journal of the British Flute Society


‘Here is a most congenial programme, ending with a tour de force [The witches’ sabbath] which must be brought forward into the light and accorded first welcome . . . The singers here do remarkably well, and their record deserves every success.’
The Gramophone


‘Thank you so much for the tape of the CCC October concert. All the works come across wonderfully well in live, vivid performances, and it’s a special bonus to have the Heward and Grainger pieces as well. It will be a valued memento of a most enjoyable occasion.’
John Joubert (70th Birthday Concert)


‘My favourite thing about this choir is the very clear, hard edged confident sound it makes, which is thrilling and refreshing.’
Judith Weir, Sainsbury’s Choir of the Year Competition


‘You demonstrated some real warmth of tone and a wonderfully communicative style.’
Ralph Allwood, Sainsbury’s Choir of the Year Competition


‘A delicious performance, and the balance between solo performers and the chorus was excellently judged.’
Gregory Rose, Sainsbury’s Choir of the Year Competition


‘Beautiful, rich, sonorous, with good tuning. Good discipline.’
Ken Burton, Sainsbury’s Choir of the Year Competition


‘CCC had been well prepared, and its intonation and phrasing were models of perfection. . . . This final programme was a hugely enjoyable experience.’
Kent Courier (Tudely Festival )