Season over

Now in their sixty-ninth year, the Dunbar & District Choral Society is as adventurous as ever and on Saturday 12th May performed the German Requiem by Brahms to a receptive audience in Dunbar Parish Church. Vaughan Townhill conducted with enthusiasm, encouraging and supporting his singers, guiding them expertly through this challenging and glorious work. It was evident that much hard work had gone into understanding and expressing its complexities. Soloists Susan Hamilton and Luis Allan brought delight and finesse, and pianists Marian Thomson and David Townhill were certainly “Four Hands in Harmony”, ably conveying the orchestral transcription on one piano. Make no mistake, the Requiem is a “big sing” but, despite some tired voices in the final moments, the choir demonstrated excellent concentration and stage discipline throughout, especially in their sensitive accompaniment of the soprano soloist. They carried the spirit of Brahms’ monumental Requiem through to its peaceful conclusion, and the audience was left entranced as the final chord faded away into silence.