Swansea Bach Choir's 40th Anniversary

Performances of Brahms' glorious Requiem are almost always noteworthy occasions, and that on the afternoon of 9 April [2006], Palm Sunday, was memorable for celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Swansea Bach Choir. Under the baton of its Founder, John Hugh Thomas, the Choir has achieved a considerable reputation, happily one not confined to the music of Johann Sebastian, the current Anniversary Season reflecting an energy and enthusiasm on the part of both singers and conductor that shows no sign of waning. Nevertheless, this concert did mark the last collaboration of its kind with one of John Hugh Thomas's other choirs, the Cardiff Polyphonic Choir, whose conductorship he has just relinquished after many distinguised years of working with them.

For this Brahms performance, the Swansea Bach and the Polys, as they are affectionately known, were also joined by the young choir Cordydd. From the opening movement, Selig sind, die da Leid tragen , the Chorus's German was exemplary, each syllable crystal clear and expressive of real depth and emotion. The combination of this clarity of delivery with a highly disciplined ensemble and a wonderful warmth of tone could hardly be bettered and sounded particularly well in the Brangwyn Hall's fine acoustic. Brahms's characteristic lyricism and the many moments of transcendent beauty were realised by Thomas with an unselfconscious tenderness.

Baritone Robert Davies brought a finely measured resonance to the aria Herr, Lehre mich doch , while Elin Manahan Thomas's soprano had an angelic purity which, though not an obsviously Brahmsian sound, was nevertheless most touching.

John Hugh Thomas is one of Wales's great assets as a conductor and Chorus Master, instrumental in the careers of many of the country's finest singers. He himself was for many years a member of the Heinrich Schütz and the Monteverdi Choirs; he has invested his own choirs with the same fastidious approach but Thomas's defining characteristic is his very fine musicianship and, as a result, his concets are invariably rewarding experiences. The testimony of many very celebrated musicians, among them Dame Janet Baker, Sir John Eliot Gardiner and Sir Roger Norrington in the brochure published to mark the Swansea Bach Choir's Anniversary, made it clear that it has always been so. John Hugh Thomas will continue to conduct memorable concerts for a long time to come but the occasion of the Swansea Choir's celebration and his retirement from the Cardiff Polyphonic Choir makes it an appropriate time to pay tribute here.

Musical Opinion July/August 2006

Handel - Dixit dominus and Bach - Christ lag in Todesbanden (BWV 4)

‘…the choir was in its element, singing its favoured repertoire…accompanied by the London Baroque Virtuosi and inspired by the ever reliable and unfussy conducting of its founder. (It) was especialIy effective in the larger sounds, bright tempos and rhythms of Handel.’

South Wales Evening Post - May 2006

Messiah

‘Rarely have I seen a performance of this wonderful creation with such clarity and conviction. The Swansea Bach Choir, known for its near perfect performances of many of the great sacred works…takes some beating.’

South Wales Evening Post - December 2005

Palm Sunday 2004 - music by Mendelssohn, Rheinberger and Pergolesi

‘In Rheinberger's Stabat mater their balance and richness of tone ended an outstanding afternoon of liturgical music.’

South Wales Evening Post - April 2004

‘The choir, always sensitive to the highly musical and intelligent interpretations of their director, John Hugh Thomas, came into its own here. Their sound was rich, the words clear, and the drama of the crucifixion scene subtly reflected.’

Guardian - April 2004

Duruflé Requiem

‘…choral singing of international standard. The balance and precision…never faltered…moving and technically extraordinary.’

South Wales Evening Post - March 2004

Messiah

‘…in this finely judged performance there was not a boring or predictable moment. The sound was bright and pure…and Handel's contrapuntal lines were cleanly articulated…Thomas drew singing that measured convincingly against the most stringent markers.’

Guardian - 8 December 2004

Christmas Concert

‘Swansea Bach Choir gave an immaculate display…the programme was light and festive, the sound and discipline never wavering.’

South Wales Evening Post 16 December 1996

‘…the city's Bach Choir as ever enchanted the listeners with caroIs old and new, giving closest possible attention to musical detail and an authentic freshness of approach.’

Western Mail 17 December 1996

Bruckner, Tchaikovsky, Mendelssohn Concert

‘…a well structured and beautifully performed concert.’

Western Mail 4 November 1996

Bach Mass in B minor with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment

‘…a soaring performance of the magnificent Mass in B Minor…a memorable display of choral excellence.’

South Wales Evening Post 25 March 1996

‘…a reading of sustained momentum…with breath-taking exhilaration.’

Western Mail 25 March 1996

Swansea Festival - Britten, Howells, Leighton and Matthias

‘Glorious musical experience…purposely treading new paths in this galaxy of 20 ^th century British choral music…archetypal clarity of sound, enviable balanced ensemble and commitment to the score.’

Western Mail 23 October 1995

St. David's Cathedral FestivaI - Monteverdi Church Music

‘…a superb programme of sacred music (from) one of the most inspiring and uplifting choirs’

Western Telegraph 31 May 1995

Duruflé, Poulenc and Villette

‘…this choir fully deserves its enviable reputation for fresh-toned clarity, phrasing and diction.’

Western Mail 20 March 1995

Messiah - with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment

‘Disciplined and detailed preparation you always expect from the choir but this was a special performance…one of the fnest performances of the work I have experienced …Superb!’

South Wales Evening Post 19 December 1994

Swansea Festival - Bach, Frank Martin and Pizzetti

‘Whenever Swansea Bach Choir take the stage the audience expects a quality performance…we were not disappointed as the choir attained new heights.’

South Wales Evening Post 24 October 1994

Gower Festival - Monteverdi Madrigals

‘..how much of a debt Swansea owes to Mr Thomas and his choir for introducing us over the past thirty years to early music, in performances which are authentic without the pedantry which that word often implies…such intonation and discipline…a power to move and delight.’

South Wales Evening Post 25 July 1994

Bach-Mattäus Passion with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment

‘Monumental and dazzling…a very special evening which is not likely to be surpassed for a very long time.’

South Wales Evening Post 28 March 1994

‘…a vivid performance…the dramatic strength enlivened by the versatility of this most responsive and skillful choir.’

Western Mail 13 December 1993

Christmas Concert

‘…the impact of that limpid, focused sound should knock most people flat.’

Western Mail 13 December 1993

Summer Concert

‘…a worthy finale to a season of outstand�ng repertoire and performance.’

Western Mail 24 May 1993

‘…they sang with great clarity and purity of tone…alert to the musical shape of the words…their diction a model of clarity.’

South Wales Evening Post 25 May 1993

Easter Concert

‘…one secure niche of truly international excellence, John Hugh Thomas's Bach Choir, which has maintained such high standards for more than twenty years.’

Newyddion 29 April 1993

Swansea Festival - Haydn Concert with the Hanover Band

‘.. brisk tempi and a strong sense of rhythm propelled the music with great excitements, and the technical expertise of the choir was equal to the considerable demands made of them…the overriding impression was one of joy and wonderment.’

Welsh Music Vol.9 No.5 Winter 1992/3

Mozart Commemortation Concert

‘…the whole evening was quite superb.’

Western Mail 2 December 1991

Swansea Festival - Haydn and Mozart Concert

‘…one of the country's leading choirs, under the masterly direction of John Hugh Thomas, it has established an enviable reputation for top-quality, polished performances.’

Western Mail 28 October 1991

Bach - Mass in B Minor

‘John Hugh Thomas moulded an impeccable performance and throughout the two testing hours he retained strict control, guiding and coaxing (his musicians) to even greater heights…it was masterly and there was joy throughout the performance.’

South Wales Evening Post 18 April 1991

Twentieth Century Choral Concert

‘Swansea Bach Choir is one of the treasures of Welsh music. Its concerts are remarkable for their hallmarks of fine musicianship. Their value in winning new listeners for unfamiliar works is pure gold.’

South Wales Evening Post 3 April 1990

Swansea Bach Choir

‘…an oasis of fine singing’

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