Centenary Concert.
Centenary Concert Photograph.
Civic Reception.
Civic Reception Newspaper Cutting.
Centenary Concert Review.
Centenary Concert.
It is not clear when the choir was really founded. There is some evidence of 1882 but firmer evidence shows 1887. Therefore it was in 1987 that Birmingham Choral Union decided to hold a centenary concert in the Town Hall. The work chosen for this concert was Bach's Mass in B Minor. This was conducted by Colin Baines and the orchestra for the occasion was the London Bach Orchestra. The five soloists were Angela Kazimierczuk (soprano), Diana Walkley (mezzo), Christopher Robson (counter-tenor), Joseph Cornwell (tenor) and James Ashworth (bass). The date of this august performance was Saturday 20 June 1987 and there was a good review by Barrie Grayson in the Birmingham Post - see the text below.
Centenary ConcertPhotograph.
Photograph of our Centenary Concert in June 1987 in Birmingham Town Hall
Civic Reception.
On the following Wednesday, 24 June 1987, there was a Civic Reception in the Council House for all members of the choir. Harold Gray, OBE, and his wife Jocelyn attended the Civic Reception with Edgar Richards (Chairman at that time) and Betty Richards. Harold was a previous long-standing conductor of Birmingham Choral Union.
Civic Reception Newspaper Cutting.
Centenary Concert Review.
Review of the Centenary Concert on Saturday 20 June 1987 - Written by Barrie Grayson in Birmingham Post on Monday 22 June, 1987."The Birmingham Choral Union, founded 100 years ago,celebrated its centenary with a most
impressive performance of Bach's Mass in B Minor.
There could have been no more sublime a work for such a memorable occasion, and Colin Baines,
the BCU's new conductor, approached the work with an interpretive accent on the music's joyous inspiration.
The B Minor Mass presents a tremendously difficult choral challenge, with elaborate chorus work often in five
and six independent parts, and for the tremendous 'Osanna' (No. 21) an eight part double choir.
The committed response to every demand Baines made gave the whole performance a spiritual up-lifting vitality.
Everyone who has sung the piece is aware of the problems of sustaining tension in the changing atmosphere of a
masterpiece of this colossal size, particularly when the eight-part 'Sanctus' with its great shouting triumph
occurs after nearly two hours of concentrated and various styled chorus work.
But the BCU showed its ability to call on reserves, and the performance of the 'Sanctus' and the 'Osanna'
created the ultimate thrilling climax.
The London Bach Orchestra accompanied with impeccable stylishness and without doubt its instrumental
sensibility and feeling of rapport with the choir added an important artistic dimension.
Of the five soloists, counter-tenor Christopher Robson and James Ashworth, bass, were outstanding.
Joseph Cornwell, tenor and Diana Walkley, mezzo were adequate, but Angela Kazimierczuk, soprano,
sang as for the scale of a chamber performance.
However, in all this was a notable celebratory introduction the Birmingham Choral Union's next century."