Reviews
It gives me enormous delight to thank, on your behalf, this wonderful choir, these wonderful musicians, for the enormous delight they have given to us. [...] We were rolled over not only by the robust and gorgeous tone of this choir, but also by the superb attacks and deeply expressive singing. If I may, I would like to single out their conductor, David Crown, who is one of those rare conductors who is able to communicate his musicianship one hundred percent to the singers. In fact, the choir and the conductor are one instrument. That is very rare and glorious to behold! The lovely solo in the Mozart, the bottom Cs in the basses, the gloriously colourful Duruflé… We have been greatly enriched and deeply inspired by these brilliant young people.
Dr John Bertalot (Organist Emeritus of Blackburn Cathedral)
June 2012
Another new CD comes from Stone Records and is - apart from four tracks taken from J. S. Bach - concerned with music by British composers, or, in the case of Otto Goldschmidt, by a German who lived for a long time in London. The tapestry thus woven is another musical Advent Calendar - 24 tracks of course, with a twenty-fifth bonus ('We wish you a merry Christmas' in Arthur Warrell's famous arrangement). Of young living composers, Toby Young's 'Advent Carol' is strikingly impressive, making one look forward to his new large-scale choral work at Cadogan Hall next year. It is a pleasure to report on the musicality which has informed the selection of the music and of each individual performance, for all are indeed fine. One might think that the actual recording quality is a shade reverberant, but such is the excellence of the diction of the Choir of Somerville College, Oxford, under David Crown that this is not such a disadvantage as might initially be thought. This is a truly excellent and worthwhile disc.
International Record Review
Review of the choir’s CD 'Advent Calendar', December 2013
At last, a Christmas disc you can enjoy for the quality of the performances! It would make a great gift, but you might want to keep it for yourself. This is a disc you can enjoy in private, and in the company of friends and family with above average taste in music. It's that good. No Xmassy ersatz here. This is the real thing!
The Choir of Somerville College, Oxford, conducted by David Crown make this a disc to cherish. Their enthusiasm is genuinely infectious. You get caught up in the sheer joy of the singing, excitement, whether you celebrate Christmas or not. That's high praise, especially in a market saturated with the blasé and conventional.
Classical Iconoclast (classical music blog)
Review of the choir’s CD 'Advent Calendar', November 2013
In contrast [to Queen's College's recording of Bednall's Christmas cantata], the thesis behind Advent Calendar by the chapel choir of Somerville College, Oxford, is a combination of carols that can be used year after year. This may not be a particularly new idea but it includes a few completely new carols, including The Seven Joys of Mary by Paul Sartin, the violinist and oboist in the folk rock band Bellowhead. Sartin has his musical roots in college music, and his setting of a Somerset folk song for a chapel choir is a vibrant illustration of how musical influences can conflate into a completely individual whole. [...] [I]t is one of the most interesting programmes of carols this year.
Gramophone
Review of the choir’s CD 'Advent Calendar', December 2013
Lusty performances, and a nice mix of familiar and less familiar selections.
BBC Music Magazine
Review of the choir’s CD 'Advent Calendar', November 2013
From the very first piece, the 22 mixed voices of Somerville College Choir evoked an atmosphere of high spirituality […] The performance was perfect, dynamic, expressive.
Il Cittadino di Lodi (Italian newspaper)
Review of a concert at San Francesco, Lodi (Italy), July 2010
The liturgical part of the evening was exquisitely ecumenical in scope, as it saw an alternation between the singing and prayer of the congregation and that of the prestigious Choir of Somerville College, Oxford, in a joyous coming together of Catholicism and Anglican tradition. […]. In the Vaughan Williams vocal splendour and dynamic effects of great emotional impact brought the piece from quietness to a crescendo of powerful expressivity. The Taverner piece, with its very modern style, alternated between monophony and polyphony in a cradling atmosphere, fitting for a piece written for Taverner’s 3-year-old nephew. The piece by the Welsh composer Mathias burst forth with brilliance while an evocative contemplation of light was offered by the American composer Whitacre in Lux aurumque.
Il Nuovo Torrazzo (Italian newspaper)
Review of a concert at San Bernardino Crema (Italy), July 2010
'Rocked' is an understatement. I am blown away by the whole thing, and feeling extremely fortunate. Hooray for Somerville! It simply couldn't have been any more rewarding.
Daniel Saleeb (composer)
After hearing Somerville Choir's performance of one of his compositions, November 2013
While Somerville doesn't have the cachet of the bigger colleges, its singers are enthusiastic, and their commitment infuses this recording with great character. […] The Somerville voices sound so fresh and pure that one can understand why Milford thought of Christmas and presumably angels and happiness. […] This recording is a milestone for Milford, but also a showcase for the Oxford college choir tradition, created afresh by the Somerville College Choir. It seems odd to call a CD of masses a "hit", but this one is!
Classical Iconoclast
Review of the choir’s debut CD, September 2012
Crown and his students can be proud of their accomplishment. They have managed to convey the mystery and the majesty of Duruflé’s masterpiece. Organist Tristan Mitchard is up to his considerable task; remember that Duruflé was a celebrated virtuoso. The soloists are, as desired, fine. I applaud the choir for its spirit.
George Chien, Fanfare Magazine
Review of the choir’s debut CD, March/April 2013 (Issue 36:4)
The Duruflé is given a nicely recessed performance which brings out all its charm and devotion.
Paul Corfield Godfrey, Music Web International
Review of the choir’s debut CD, December 2012
I liked the fresh tone of the choir and they sing the piece as if they believe in it. […] Crown’s direction is sure-footed. In particular he’s successful in maintaining the flow that’s so vital in this plainchant-derived music […] The coupling is most unusual and very enterprising.
John Quinn, Music Web International
Review of the choir’s debut CD, December 2012
Excellent job, folks!
Mark Brymer (composer/arranger) on the choir’s performance of his arrangement of the Bohemian Rhapsody, October 2012)
Dr John Bertalot (Organist Emeritus of Blackburn Cathedral)
June 2012
Another new CD comes from Stone Records and is - apart from four tracks taken from J. S. Bach - concerned with music by British composers, or, in the case of Otto Goldschmidt, by a German who lived for a long time in London. The tapestry thus woven is another musical Advent Calendar - 24 tracks of course, with a twenty-fifth bonus ('We wish you a merry Christmas' in Arthur Warrell's famous arrangement). Of young living composers, Toby Young's 'Advent Carol' is strikingly impressive, making one look forward to his new large-scale choral work at Cadogan Hall next year. It is a pleasure to report on the musicality which has informed the selection of the music and of each individual performance, for all are indeed fine. One might think that the actual recording quality is a shade reverberant, but such is the excellence of the diction of the Choir of Somerville College, Oxford, under David Crown that this is not such a disadvantage as might initially be thought. This is a truly excellent and worthwhile disc.
International Record Review
Review of the choir’s CD 'Advent Calendar', December 2013
At last, a Christmas disc you can enjoy for the quality of the performances! It would make a great gift, but you might want to keep it for yourself. This is a disc you can enjoy in private, and in the company of friends and family with above average taste in music. It's that good. No Xmassy ersatz here. This is the real thing!
The Choir of Somerville College, Oxford, conducted by David Crown make this a disc to cherish. Their enthusiasm is genuinely infectious. You get caught up in the sheer joy of the singing, excitement, whether you celebrate Christmas or not. That's high praise, especially in a market saturated with the blasé and conventional.
Classical Iconoclast (classical music blog)
Review of the choir’s CD 'Advent Calendar', November 2013
In contrast [to Queen's College's recording of Bednall's Christmas cantata], the thesis behind Advent Calendar by the chapel choir of Somerville College, Oxford, is a combination of carols that can be used year after year. This may not be a particularly new idea but it includes a few completely new carols, including The Seven Joys of Mary by Paul Sartin, the violinist and oboist in the folk rock band Bellowhead. Sartin has his musical roots in college music, and his setting of a Somerset folk song for a chapel choir is a vibrant illustration of how musical influences can conflate into a completely individual whole. [...] [I]t is one of the most interesting programmes of carols this year.
Gramophone
Review of the choir’s CD 'Advent Calendar', December 2013
Lusty performances, and a nice mix of familiar and less familiar selections.
BBC Music Magazine
Review of the choir’s CD 'Advent Calendar', November 2013
From the very first piece, the 22 mixed voices of Somerville College Choir evoked an atmosphere of high spirituality […] The performance was perfect, dynamic, expressive.
Il Cittadino di Lodi (Italian newspaper)
Review of a concert at San Francesco, Lodi (Italy), July 2010
The liturgical part of the evening was exquisitely ecumenical in scope, as it saw an alternation between the singing and prayer of the congregation and that of the prestigious Choir of Somerville College, Oxford, in a joyous coming together of Catholicism and Anglican tradition. […]. In the Vaughan Williams vocal splendour and dynamic effects of great emotional impact brought the piece from quietness to a crescendo of powerful expressivity. The Taverner piece, with its very modern style, alternated between monophony and polyphony in a cradling atmosphere, fitting for a piece written for Taverner’s 3-year-old nephew. The piece by the Welsh composer Mathias burst forth with brilliance while an evocative contemplation of light was offered by the American composer Whitacre in Lux aurumque.
Il Nuovo Torrazzo (Italian newspaper)
Review of a concert at San Bernardino Crema (Italy), July 2010
'Rocked' is an understatement. I am blown away by the whole thing, and feeling extremely fortunate. Hooray for Somerville! It simply couldn't have been any more rewarding.
Daniel Saleeb (composer)
After hearing Somerville Choir's performance of one of his compositions, November 2013
While Somerville doesn't have the cachet of the bigger colleges, its singers are enthusiastic, and their commitment infuses this recording with great character. […] The Somerville voices sound so fresh and pure that one can understand why Milford thought of Christmas and presumably angels and happiness. […] This recording is a milestone for Milford, but also a showcase for the Oxford college choir tradition, created afresh by the Somerville College Choir. It seems odd to call a CD of masses a "hit", but this one is!
Classical Iconoclast
Review of the choir’s debut CD, September 2012
Crown and his students can be proud of their accomplishment. They have managed to convey the mystery and the majesty of Duruflé’s masterpiece. Organist Tristan Mitchard is up to his considerable task; remember that Duruflé was a celebrated virtuoso. The soloists are, as desired, fine. I applaud the choir for its spirit.
George Chien, Fanfare Magazine
Review of the choir’s debut CD, March/April 2013 (Issue 36:4)
The Duruflé is given a nicely recessed performance which brings out all its charm and devotion.
Paul Corfield Godfrey, Music Web International
Review of the choir’s debut CD, December 2012
I liked the fresh tone of the choir and they sing the piece as if they believe in it. […] Crown’s direction is sure-footed. In particular he’s successful in maintaining the flow that’s so vital in this plainchant-derived music […] The coupling is most unusual and very enterprising.
John Quinn, Music Web International
Review of the choir’s debut CD, December 2012
Excellent job, folks!
Mark Brymer (composer/arranger) on the choir’s performance of his arrangement of the Bohemian Rhapsody, October 2012)
© 2012-2024 Stefan Schwarz
