The year 2024 marked a very special year for the community choir which is, “Muscat Singers”. After 50 years of highs and lows - literally and metaphorically - their Golden Jubilee Concert in The Bosch Centre for Performing Arts, Azaiba on Saturday evening, came out on top in every sense. The choir has gone from strength to strength in the last 20 years, now standing at more than 60 performing singers. Members hail from around the world, including Oman, Eastern Europe, Asia and African countries, and gave a varied seasonal tribute including some very special, talented guests.
Under their most recent conductor, Rachel Halliday, the whole choir assembled on stage to open proceedings with a splendid rendition of Haydn’s ever popular, “Missa Brevis”. It was beautifully executed with clarity and blended vocal ensemble, featuring the marvellous local soprano, Elayne Looker as soloist in the central movement, and accompanied on piano by Aline El-Khoury.
It was followed by “Concierto para Quintetto”, by Astor Piazzolla, played by Muscat ensemble, “Libertango”, to pin-drop silence and awe from the audience. Tomasz Gniatkowski’s accordion playing simulated the Argentinian bandoneon sound of Piazzolla’s original score to a tee. Renata Majewska’s powerful, rhythmic piano part provided an ample orchestral texture with Jean-Baptiste Fraysse on double bass. Lidia Gniatkowska’s solo horn appearance replaced the vocal line in, “Oblivion” delightfully, and in, “Muerte del Angel”, Juhaina al Balushi performed with fierce, passionate fiddle playing.
The choir returned on stage with a stunning, empathetic reworking of Christina Rossetti’s winter poem, “In The Bleak Mid-Winter” by Musical Director, Alec D. Jackson. The performance was breath-taking in its musical sensitivity, accompanied skilfully on piano by Anna Cartmill.
After a 20 minute interval, the audience returned to the auditorium to find Muscat Brass Quintet on stage. The band of five wind players are: Adrian Woodward and Maurycy Gniatkowski, trumpets, Dan Anthony on French horn, James Gribben, trombone and Jesse Goss taking some of the bass melodies on baritone saxophone. They played a humorous assortment of festive winter songs so beloved by audiences everywhere at this time of year including, ‘Jingle Bells’ and ‘Deck the Halls’ in the medley, “Christmas Crackers”, followed by, ‘Angels from the Realms of Glory’, ‘Away in a Manger’, ‘God Rest Ye’ and ‘Good King Wenceslas’ in, “Carol Fantasy” - a glittering concoction by the talented English trombone player and arranger, John Iveson.
‘Orientis Partibus’ is a Latin medieval song, celebrating the Feast of the Ass which carried Mary into Bethlehem – an extremely amusing and lively arrangement, highlighting the versatile qualities of the Muscat Singers. It featured accompaniment by Rebecca Bailey, recorder and Ali al Balushi, festive tambourine.
Peter Hawksworth complemented Kirby Shaw’s sunny arrangement of the popular 1953 Steve Allen number, “Cool Yule” on piano. Jule Styne’s 1945 chestnut, “Let it Snow” and Irving Berlin’s, “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm”, was enhanced by erstwhile Musical Director, Rob Millner playing some dazzling jazz piano behind.
The mood changed a touch in, “The Little Drummer Boy” and “Peace on Earth” with the brilliant piano skills of Christl Wimmer adding pathos to their lovely interpretation.
Absolutely stunning came Franz Gruber’s perennial favourite, “Silent Night” in an original arrangement by Alec Jackson. It brought the formal part of this substantial programme and spectacular performance to a moving conclusion. It led to the audience participation section of seasonal songs, ‘Joy to the World’, ‘Ding Dong Merrily on High’ and ‘Adeste Fideles’, accompanied by the undaunted Muscat Brass Quintet Finale. Muscat Singers and Brass brought, “every note to life with precision, artistry and passion” to round off this special, Golden Jubilee Year, and truly unforgettable evening!
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