Our on-demand world denies long-form experiences, insisting that the point needs to be got to as quickly as possible if you stand a chance of being seen as valid, applicable or relevant. Cellist, singer and percussionist Abel Selaocoe’s ever-reliable artistry (on show in an electrifying fusion of Rachmaninov’s All-Night Vigil and African traditional music with the BBC Singers) turns the tiresome present-day impatience with content longer than 30 seconds on its head. In last night’s Vespers at Milton Court, London, he co-created with BBC Singers conductor Sofi Jeannin experiences for performers and audience alike that were powerful, touching and gloriously uplifting.
That is partly down to Rachmaninov’s glistening material, all burnished goals and vibrant blues and reds from the 20+ members of the BBC Singers whose considerable stamina was evident throughout. Lots of fruity low bass notes and fierce top lines from the sopranos. Regardless of your religiosity or otherwise, Rachmaninov’s setting of Russian Orthodox texts premiered in 1915 has an unequivocal consoling effect. If there is a soundtrack for achieving a sense of acceptance and maybe even closure, this would be the work.
Interspersed between movements, breathtaking improvisations based on traditional African songs led by Abel Selaocoe. Incessant inexorable rhythmically driven material builds to an ecstatic climax, followed by a gentle return to earth. Every time. Selaocoe uses voice and instrument in inventive ways – pizzicato, unusual strokes of the bow on the strings, scraping, tapping and slapping the body of the instrument too. From time to time he leaps up, signalling to the BBC Singers with his bow a mood demonstratively and succinctly. He’s no doubt disappointed by the energy the audience offers up when he directs us to join in, but the truth is we’re simply dumbstruck by what’s playing out in front of us.
Our on-demand world denies long-form experiences, insisting that the point needs to be got to as quickly as possible if you stand a chance of being seen as valid, applicable or relevant. Cellist, singer and percussionist Abel Selaocoe’s ever-reliable artistry (on show in an electrifying fusion of Rachmaninov’s All Night Vigil and African traditional music with the BBC Singers) turns the tiresome present-day impatience with content longer than 30 seconds on its head. In last night’s Vespers at Milton Court, London, he co-created with BBC Singers conductor Sofi Jeannin experiences for performers and audience alike that were powerful, touching and gloriously uplifting.
That is partly down to Rachmaninov’s glistening material, all burnished goals and vibrant blues and reds from the 20+ members of the BBC Singers whose considerable stamina was evident throughout. Lots of fruity low bass notes and fierce top lines from the sopranos. Regardless of your religiosity or otherwise, Rachmaninov’s setting of Russian Orthodox texts premiered in 1915 has an unequivocal consoling effect. If there is a soundtrack for achieving a sense of acceptance and maybe even closure, this would be the work.
Abel Selaocoe’s improvisations are rich, inventive and mesmerising. The sound worlds he creates with the ever-versatile BBC Singers is breathtaking. Sympathetic too. Jeannin and Selaocoe share the stage. When Jeannin conducts, Selaocoe sits in darkness. When Selaocoe steps up, Jeannin walks slowly to the edge of the stage.
An unexpected consequence of lockdown saw me connect more with solo piano, chamber music and choral music. Here at Milton Court, the fervour of Rachmaninov’s All-Night Vigil combined with Selaocoe’s blistering creativity made for an intense night of personal reflection.
All this was created by the remarkable talents of the BBC Singers. Their survival, like that of their colleagues at the BBC Concert, BBC Symphony and BBC Philharmonic orchestras is by no mean secure. Expect the BBC to make swingeing cuts when the Proms is over in Septmeber. Shame the ignorant fools drawing up their ill-thought-out strategy weren’t at the event. I imagine they were having a weekend at home after revelling at the Eurovision in Liverpool the weekend before.
Listen to Rachmaninoff’s All Night Vigil with the BBC Singers and Abel Selaocoe on BBC Radio 3 on Tuesday 23 May and for 30 days after broadcast on BBC Sounds.
