Chester Cathedral Choir

We are all sitting, waiting for the red light to come on to show us we were on air. The suspense was almost unbearable. It flashes. Stops. Then lights up again. We are on air!

On the 11^th of February we sang choral evensong, live on BBC Radio 3. Practising for weeks in advance we all came together at Chester at 3 o’clock for one last rehearsal. Everything was timed by the producers and microphones adjusted. We could all feel the excitement in the air as it neared 4 o’clock. Our break over, we processed into the service and waited.

We began with the introit, Zum Abendsegen by Mendelssohn. This was followed by Joe Buckmaster cantoring the Reading responses perfectly!  The psalms for the evening were psalms 59, 60 and 61 and the last psalm was unaccompanied meaning we couldn’t afford to lose concentration! The Canticles were Walmisley in B flat, a favourite of many of us and a great, big sing with double choir. Olivia Hunt sang a beautiful solo in the Nunc Dimittis opening, in which her voice floated over us. To finish the evensong we sang the anthem, Geistliches Lied by Brahms and remembered all of the German pronunciations carefully. Mr Rushforth conducted us with such energy and gusto!

Mr Roberts played the organ voluntary Sonata No 1 in C minor by Rheinberger. After playing a whole service without slipping a single note and to then go on to play a voluntary, I am told, is torture! It was a lovely end to an exciting service.

Emily Burnett

Chester Cathedral Choir.

One Response to “BBC Radio 3 Choral Evensong Broadcast – 11th February 2009”