Reviews

"We know the Christmas Season is definitely upon us when Andrew Parnell, Ely Choral Society and Ely Youth Choir present their customary Christmas Concert in St. Mary’s Church, Ely. Their concert this Saturday was a delightful introduction to this carol singing season. Andrew Parnell is not only the renowned conductor of Ely Choral Society and Ely Youth Choir, he is also a composer, and his arrangement of the carol ‘Adam lay bounded’ was a splendid piece. There was no doubt that much of its success came from Parnell knowing the choir very well. With his inspired conducting, the lines were stretched and smoothed beautifully. ‘A Ceremony of Carols’, by Benjamin Britten, was then performed.....leaving no doubt that Ely Choral Society is a choir of some standing."

December 3, 2011 A Ceremony of Carols Rosemary Westwell, Local Secrets

"Ely Choral Society rose to the occasion again with a splendid concert in the Lady Chapel on Saturday evening. "Gloria Italia" featured a programme of fine Italian music written from the sixteenth to the eighteenth centuries. There were glorious moments that brought out the best of these compositions. The choir was particularly well balanced and the tone warm and inviting. Some of their moments of glory were in the opening "Magnificat" by Durante, Lotti’s "Salve Regina" and "Crucifixus", and Vivaldi’s "Gloria". The rapturous applause at the end of the concert was testament indeed that this had been a wonderful evening."

October 22, 2011 Gloria Italia Local Secrets