Events
Last Concert - 8th December 2007
Beethoven's Seventh Symphony and Haydn's Maria Theresa Mass
Beethoven's Seventh Symphony. The composer himself called it his "most excellent symphony". One music critic of the time reported, "this symphony is the richest melodically and the most pleasing and comprehensible of all Beethoven symphonies."
Haydn's Maria Theresa Mass. While not as frequently performed as its companions the "Nelson" mass or the Missa in Tempore Belli, the Theresienmesse has attracted critical admiration for "the variety, rhythmic energy and contrapuntal skill of a composer at the height of his powers".
Bach B Minor Mass - 10 March 2007
The Mass in B Minor stands as a monument of Bach's skill, for it is a work based much upon his earlier music. He may have felt himself to be selecting his finest work, laying it out for inspection, and putting it to the service of praising God.
Handel's Saul - 28 October 2006
From John Manning's review in The Herts Advertiser:
In the years that the Woodmansterne Collection has given concerts at St Albans Abbey, it has always aimed at the highest possible standards. Founder Paul Woodmansterne set a new standard for St Albans with a performance of Handel's rarely performed oratorio Saul.
Saul is an oratorio that depends as much for its success on its chorus and orchestra as it does on the soloists and in this performance both were outstanding. At every level, choral and orchestral as well as the soloists, the standards were of the very highest.