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Rounds of applause rang out over the weekend for the Gentlemen of St John's College Cambridge choir who performed a series of concerts at St Ouen’s Church, the Town Church, and Gouray Church over the weekend. One audience member described it as “ an absolutely phenomenal concert. The best I have been to in Jersey! “, while others called for them to return to the Island.
Formed of the Choral Scholars of the world-renowned, Gramophone award-winning Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge, the Gentlemen drew on their legacy of a busy schedule of concerts and making recordings for over forty years (although the personnel obviously regularly change. Remarkably for such young men aged mainly between 18 and 23, the Gents are noted for their versatility and some thunderous low notes by basses Oli Morris and Piers Kennedy which at times resonated like a jumbo jet taking off.
At Gouray Church they brought the sounds of the Cambridge chapels to Jersey. Such beautiful choral works as Byrd’s three part mass and Tallis’ “If ye love Me” featured. And at the end they, including a very fine tenor called Gopal Kambo, let their hair down with a range of music from “Steal away” to “I wanna be like you” from the Jungle Book which featured a very talented Benna Flinn who looked so young one wonders if he would be served in a bar performing Shere Khan with a wonderful range of voices leaving the congregation laughing in the aisles. Especially noteworthy was a solo performance of “Amazing Grace” by the alto Dan Brown.
The two evening concerts saw the Gentlemen show off a repertoire ranging from early sacred music to folksongs to more modern close-harmony. The first half included early sacred music from the vibrant “Jubilate Deo” by Orlande de Lassus to “The Lamentations of Jeremiah” by Tallis. Then there was a set of music written for the Choir of St John’s College by past and present singer composers, before spirituals in St Ouen’s church and Britten’s “The Ballad of Little Musgrave and Lady Barnard” in the Town church. The Britten featured dropping Oli Morris, Simon Grant and Michael Bell as soloists with some wonderful word painting and sonorous sounds.
In the second half the Gents performed a capella works arranged by themselves Highlights included a quite ravishing beautiful “Tears in Heaven” by alto soloist Hugh Cutting showing his remarkable full and generous sound, “Close to You” with Matthew Gibson and the youthful Jack Hawkins in “I Kissed a Girl”.
Music in Action Chairman James Mews stated, “It was such a privilege to welcome the Gents from St Johns College Cambridge to Jersey. As well as some stunning concerts we were delighted that the Gents did a workshop helping to develop a range of Jersey vocal students, these opportunities are a major emphasis of Music in Action so it was wonderful to see the Gent’s embracing these events.”
