Monteverdi Vespers: a magnificant concert with a standing ovation!
On Friday 7th February 2025, Carolyn Craig met with my wife La, Cathy Hay and me at our house to discuss a project that had been in my mind for several years: to put on a performance of the Monteverdi Vespers of 1610. I had first heard this aged about 17 but , despite being close to obsessed with it ever since and now being over 70, I had never sung it.
14 months later, with huge involvement of very many people and the unwavering support of the Dean of Wells, the concert actually took place. To say it was a success would be an understatement. The Cathedral was almost full and a long and rapturous standing ovation was given at the end.
It was a long and at times difficult project. Confusion arose when it became clear that the Wells Cathedral Chamber Choir thought the Cathedral was responsible and the Cathedral thought the responsibility lay entirely with the Chamber Choir. Once this was cleared up, with help and support from Dean Toby, the Cathedral’s professional events team did a fantastic job, helped by many individuals who invited friends and family and placed posters and flyers round the city. Emily Bevan and Chelsi-anna Vaughan and the whole team at the cathedral were wonderful.
Essential to the project taking off at all were the sponsors (including John Parsons, without whose invaluable support the project would several times have floundered, La and Chris Vigar, Nicola Jenkin, Elizabeth Bale and Richard Savage), who put in a significant sum early in the planning stages. John Parsons and I also agreed to underwrite the project so there was no possibility of any financial loss to the Cathedral.
Also vital was the help given by Liz Walker, who had been a flute teacher at the Wells Cathedral School, and who coordinated the booking of the two fabulous ensembles. The Monteverdi String Band, led by Wells alumnus Olly Webber and the English Cornett and Sackbut Ensemble, with Toby Carr on theorbo, Simon Lloyd on continuo and Annabel Knight and Liz on recorder, were absolutely mind-blowingly wonderful.
Then there was the involvement of the stunning young musicians of the Wells Cathedral School, both as extra members of the ensembles and as performers of the instrumental interludes. Many of the audience commented on the amazing playing of Dario Castello’s Sonata Quinta by Ted Lunt and Morgan Bland.
As mentioned in the programme notes, Olly Webber of the Monteverdi String Band, and leading Monteverdi interpreters from the Wells Cathedral School were able to provide high-level coaching to the musicians from the school who took part. This was also paid for by our sponsors. Will Drakett prepared the young singers for their role in the Sancta Maria.
The programme booklet included excellent notes written by John Williams which were fascinating and enlightening.
We were truly blessed with the soloists. Two more Wells alumni, Kieran White and Madeleine Perring, together with two of the Cathedral’s own Vicars Choral, Richard Rowntree and Will Drakett, were joined by Beth Yates and left many of us spell-bound by their glorious skill and musicianship.
It was fitting though deeply sad that the concert was dedicated to our dear friend Martin Warren who died suddenly. He had already attended several rehearsals and was looking forward with his usual enthusiasm and energy to singing in it. Maybe at least the tenor entry in Lauda Jerusalem might indeed have been heard wherever he is now. Bless you, Martin, we will never forget you and we miss you very much.
And finally… Carolyn Craig. What to say? She rose to the occasion magnificently and is ultimately responsible for the entire project being such a success. We are proud, honoured, and thrilled that she took this on and I for one am aware of the massive amount of effort, research, blood, sweat and tears she put into this. I’m sure I write on behalf of everyone involved that we could not be more grateful.
Here are some of the written responses from the audience after the concert – of course not including the very numerous verbal accolades which many of us heard immediately afterwards.
“It was a wonderful endeavour and beautifully executed. I was particularly impressed by the tenors and their dynamic range both intimate and celestial filling the space. The conducting was spot on with a real sense of momentum and pace which can be lacking from so many of the performances of the Vespers …. The choir in Nisi Dominus really delivered a visceral power that sent shivers down my spine. Bravo Tutti.”
“Just need to say: ‘Transporting … divine … balm to a troubled soul!’ Thankyou!”
“A veritable tour de force last night – the prolonged standing ovation said it all!”
“The performance of Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610 was fantastic! I was both moved and inspired by the performance, which well deserved the standing ovation it received. The final Magnificat is my favourite and it certainly did not disappoint.”
“What an achievement that concert was!!! So beautiful to see how we created such an opportunity for the pupils at the school – huge tick. The choir sounded FANTASTIC and Carolyn coped with everything incredibly well …… this one evening will resonate for so many people, for so long – and THAT is what it’s all about. Thank you.”
“What a triumph. Tonight was thrilling and brilliantly performed. Well done everyone.”
“This was possibly one of the best concerts I have ever been to in my life. The Monteverdi String Band with cornets, sackbuts, violone and dazzling recorders, Cornetto and choir with brilliant soloists. My favourite was the two tenors and bass in the “Duo Seraphim” exquisitely sung by Will Drakett, Richard Rowntree and Kieran White, all notable soloists. The far-flung spaces of the cathedral were used as soloists moved into corners to sing or play their solo/ensemble. All was put together and energetically and clearly and joyously conducted by the cathedral’s very own Carolyn Craig. Enthralling evening.”
“Just a note to thank and congratulate you and all who partook in the Vespers the other night. It was a wonderful and memorable performance of what to my mind is one of the greatest of all choral works. I heard of it first in Dublin from Prof Brian Boydell, and heard it in full first in about 1970 in Westminster Cathedral – one of those landmark musical occasions in life, as was the other evening.”
“ ….. the quality of the soloists, the well-chosen intermezzi to showcase the talents of the players, the fabulous use of the nave acoustic and the high parts of the Cathedral, and the bravura gathering together of a superb ensemble into one concert.”
“What a wonderful evening you gave us! Quality singing and playing plus effortless choreography. But as importantly and impressively, a joyous “family” atmosphere, with contributions from former choristers and current WCS pupils. We will remember your young recorder and sackbut soloists for a long time!”
And from a previous member of the Wells Oratorio, just one word, which sums it up for me, too : “Wow!”
