The SUGC Chamber Choir and Central Coast Chorale and Chamber Orchestra perform on 11 August

On Sunday the 11th of August, as Sydney’s CBD was locked down for 85,000 runners in the City-to-Surf, and as kids across the Central Coast were getting excited about the Moscow Circus while their dads resigned themselves to missing the rugby at Bluetongue Stadium, The University of Sydney Graduate Chamber Choir travelled to Gosford to do what we like most, sing as best we can under Christopher’s firm and encouraging direction.

Harpist Owen Torr performs at Fabulously French 11 August 2013

We went to bolster our brethren, the Central Coast Chorale, who, along with the Central Coast Chamber Orchestra, and in cooperation with the Alliance Française Côte Centrale (sic) put on “Fabulously French”, an exquisite program including Fauré’s Requiem and Cantique de Jean Racine and Debussy’s work for solo harp and strings, Danse sacrée et danse profane. The concert featured Owen Torr on harp, soprano Elke Hook and baritone Daniel Macey.

Music Director Christopher Bowen and soloists Elke Hook and Daniel Macey

It was a glorious spring day with temperatures north of 25 degrees. To the distant roar of the footy crowd, the Chorale and Chamber Choir performed pieces by Fauré, Saint-Säens, D’Indy and Lambillote in the recently acoustically improved Christ Church Anglican Church, Gosford. We were able to marvel at the beauty of our ‘green room’, the original sandstone church next door, built in 1857 by Edmund Blacket. (Blacket has dotted NSW with beautiful churches, including St. Stephen’s, Newtown, St Mark’s Darling Point and St Michael’s Surry Hills.)

Christ Church Anglican Church Gosford

As always, the Central Coast Chorale were charming hosts, delighting us with an abundant and delicious tea at the interval. There were a lot of happy faces on the day and as winter wanes, we finished singing with the sun still rather high in the sky before 5 pm. Manly defeated the NZ Warriors 27-12 in front of a capacity crowd. They next face the Rabbitohs.

Will Willits