Rutland Ladies' Choir perform a Christmas concert at Uppingham School Chapel

A choir that formed only 10 months ago gave a sparkling performance in celebration of Christmas.

The voices of Rutland Ladies’ Choir filled Uppingham School Chapel on Saturday evening (December 10), bringing a playful mixture of festive jollity in their song choices, and traditional carols that allowed for some hearty audience participation.

With about 70 members, the choir made the most of its ability to sing multi-layered harmonies, as well as supporting exceptional solo performances by the tenor Matthew Sandy and choir founder and operatic tenor Andrew Kennedy, who gave an enchanting rendition of O Holy Night.

Among the couple of light-hearted numbers that raised a laugh from the packed chapel were The Twelve Days After Christmas by Frederick Silver, a tongue-in-cheek take on The Twelve Days of Christmas, which begins with the lines: “The first day after Christmas my true love and I had a fight, and so I chopped the pear tree down and burned it just for spite.”

Adding to the festive spectrum was ‘Jazz Ensemble’, a note-perfect three-piece band that offered a very different take on three Christmas classics.

For a new outfit, Rutland Ladies Choir provided a highly polished performance that would not be out of place in any city cathedral setting.

They promise a summer concert, Night at the Musicals, next year.

Review by Suzanne Moon