Sussex Symphony Orchestra and its guest soloists could not have had a better setting than the vast auditorium of the church with its spectacular backdrop of glistening golden mosaics and candelabra. The ear was feasted as well as the eye with glorious music and voices ascending the lofty heights.
Highlights included Naomi Harvey, soprano, whose blood-red dress seemed appropriate, contrasting the powerful drama of Pace Pace with the lyrical Dotettas’ Dream. The tenor voice was heard to great effect in Vesti La Guibba and Pourquoi Me Reville with the beautiful accompaniment of harp, flute and clarinet. Questo Amore and Avant De Quitter Ces Lieux featured baritone Kevin Greenlaw.
The orchestra excelled with the sublime Intermezzo from Cavelleria Rusticana and haunting overture to La Forza del Destino.
No celebration of opera would be complete without Nessun Dorma which was served up as a full-bodied encore from all three soloists.
A discordant note was the cretinous flash photography during the final arias – a distracting insult to the artists.
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