Triumph for vocal union after town show sell-out

From the archive, first published Friday 3rd Feb 2006.

Keighley Shared Church was filled on Saturday as 65 members of Keighley Vocal Union presented their first centenary concert.

They celebrated the 250th anniversary of Mozart's birth by performing his last major work Requiem.

They also give a well-received Keighley premiere of Carl Jenkins' The Armed Man (a Mass for Peace).

Conductor Frank Smith said his choir was in splendid form creating majestic, noble, tender, dramatic and spine-tingling moods.

He said: "In both works Bradford Chamber Orchestra, led by Sally Robinson, provided expressive and sympathetic colour."

Frank said that in the Requiem, the choir's fiery and uplifting singing contrasted with the great style of soloists Carol Smith, Barbara Entwistle, John Whinnerah and Ken Hollas.

He said: "This proved to be a tremendous performance by singers and players, brought to a wonderful conclusion in the Lux Aeterna."

Frank said The Armed Man, written in dedication to the victims of Kosovo, was accompanied by exciting rhythms and thrilling brass sections.

He said: "The best-known movement is the Benedictus, introduced by a delicate cello solo beautifully played by Sally Ladds.

"The words of this work were gathered together from different sources.

"One section was written by a survivor of the Nagasaki atomic bomb. This was movingly sung by Gill Cartwright."

Frank conductor since 1982, said the concert was a triumphant start to Keighley Vocal Union's centenary year.

He said: "The choir hopes Saturday's audience will follow it through the year as it presents music in Skipton, Ilkley, Bradford and Keighley."

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