A noontime recital of Faure’s Requiem Op. 48 by Waterford Choir, Ad Hoc Chorale, at Christ Church Cathedral, met the composer’s intention of it being a noontime funeral service. The morning was crisp and the sun spring-like as the audience gathered. The conductor Cian O’Carroll arranged his nineteen singers in a single curve on the altar and I think it dissipated the overall sound at times and I was probably too near the organ to know whether there was lapses in diction or just the sense sacrificed for the music.

Colin Nichols played the organ and the piece is low on sound wrath or fury as was the composer’s intention. Deirdre Scanlon’s violin inserts in the Sanctus were beautiful.

The Kyrie, Lux Aeterna, Liberna Me and the closing In Paradisum, enabled the choir to shine, especially the soprano in Paradisum. They were Anne Barry, Pamela Harrison, Louise O’Carroll and Stephanie Foley.

Eoin Power (bass) was excellent in the Libera Me and Stephanie Foley shone in Pie Jesu. What a clear soprano tone she has.

The other members of the Chorale are:- Altos – Rebecca Carroll, Sinead Dempsey, Oonagh Drohan, Rita Flynn, Sinead O’Carroll. Tenors – Niall Crowley, Derry O’Carroll, John O’Carroll, Kevin Power and Greg Scanlon. Basses – John Burke, Colum Hickey, Brendan Long and Donal Power.