“A Bermuda Heritage Concert 2007’ took place at St John’s Church last Saturday and Sunday, the 19th and 20th of May, respectively. This review is of the latter.

The programme consisted of six offerings by the choir, two by vocal ensemble, and four solos. There was also a special feature, F J Haydn’s Violin Concerto in C major, played by fourteen year old Leidy Sinclair.

With the exception of the Haydn, (one supposes) all of the orchestral arrangements were the work of director Mrs. Marjorie Pettit.

The youth choir, neat and orderly in their red and white, began the evening with ‘Angel Voices’, by Alexander Gretchaninoff., the nineteenth century Russian, and was followed by Bruno Coulais In memoriam, from “The Choristers’, a work Mrs. Pettit has previously gone to for material. The choir met the special challenges of this work well, Conrad Roach’s trumpet gilding the sopranos voices, until the surprisingly abrupt ending. Mendelssohn’s anthem from ‘Elijah’, ‘I Waited On The Lord’, with its testing tessitura followed. and was received by the audience with generous applause.

‘Solfege Samba’ was the choir’s next offering. It was a samba in name only, the choir jumping into the rhythmic piece with enthusiasm; a fun piece to sing, clearly, as was Michael Diacks ‘Sing a Song of Sixpence’ with bustling clarinet and flute accompaniment.

In Bill Duncan’s unforeseen absence, young Jonathan McBeath was drafted to play the organ. What a useful talent to have about, and what a good job he did, too.

No more was heard from the choir until after the intermission, when they sang Humperdinck’s “Prayer’, from ‘Hansel and Gretel’’, and J Strauss’s lilting “At Break of Day,” from Die Fledermaus”.

What a well prepared choir this is; their enthusiasm is contagious. The do all the basic things well; they know the music, are attentive to their conductor’s leading, sing tunefully and harmoniously.

There were two soloists everyone must have been anxious to hear, both formerly featured at previous heritage concerts, both of exceptional promise: the soprano Kerri-Lynne Dietz, and young prodigy Leidy Leidy Sinclair.

Ms. Dietz chose Handel’s ‘Laschia Ch’io Pianga, from Rinaldo, and in the second half Mozart’s ‘Non So Piu Cosa Son’. Both were well done, especially the Mozart, which the singer seemed to enjoy more. The voice, the dramatics, the musicality of this singer continues to progress, audibly.

Ms. Sinclair has the ability to demand the most serious attention, and critical listening. Obviously she still lacks her full potential of physical strength — Haydn’s concerti were written for men! Never- the-less from the chord of the soloist’s entry, one was aware of something special happening. Heidi plays with intensity and accuracy. The Adagio was interestingly done, a little shy emotionally, but almost flawless. What a mature musician this young performer is, already.

In between the choir’s offerings were some beautifully sung solos. Thomas Ribaroff seems to be a real find. A boy soprano with a warm tone and good ear, he sang the solo in Karl Jenkins’s Benedictus. Jordan Robbins sang Gershwin’s ‘Summertime’; not an easy piece to sing, but her accurate note placement, good breath control, and pleasant tone were all in evidence as she successfully negotiated this piece.

A quartet consisting of veterans (by now) of the choir, Honor Brady, Paige Hallett, and Emily Ross, with Chelsea Mayeaux taking the lead, rendered Villa Lobo’s ‘Bachianas Brasileiras’, popularised decades ago now by the folk singer Joan Baez. It is basically a vocalise consisting of phrases and devices in imitation of the German master. It is not an easy sing, but again, well done. Paige Hallett interpreted a traditional Scottish folk song ‘Think on Me’, sung with care and restrain to strong emotional effect.

The evening closed with three items by the choir. First, Verdi’s passionate ‘Chorus of The Hebrew Slaves’

sung with more verve than one surmises the composer intended, but beautifully, and it was evident that the choir enjoyed singing this famous work, Then, ‘The Battle of Jericho.” (also Conrad Roach’s valiant — and successful — battle, to make the choir swing!), which was followed by the gorgeous benediction by John Rutter, ‘The Lord Bless you and Keep You’, nicely sung by the choir.

An essential feature of this annual even is the hearty expressions of love and appreciation shown Mrs. Pettit by the young people on the receipt of her bouquet. It was duly done, and after all the relevant persons were thanked by Mr. Anthony Pettit, another Heritage Concert was all too soon over.