Vive La France! Concert

I have been a part of the music community at NWC for 7 years now and can confidently say that this has been the best concert we have ever performed! From the rehearsals during the term to the final performance in the evening, the whole experience was enthralling.

The concert started off with the Orchestra playing Bacchanale from Samson et Delilah by Camille Saint-Säens which is now my favourite orchestral piece. ‘Samson and Delilah is an opera that premiered in Weimar on December 2, 1877. Dramatizing the life of Samson, the legendary strong man, and Delilah, the woman who seduced and betrayed him, the piece opens with an oboe solo before a steady pulse develops in the orchestra itself. Over that pulse, light woodwind and strings carry the dance theme forward, with percussion emphasising the action. I loved playing the powerful Timpani part alongside the rest of the percussion section.

The orchestra then accompanied mezzo soprano Kiera, singing Habañera from Carmen by Georges Bizet followed by a soprano duet from Charlotte and Maya singing Duo des Fleurs from Lakmé by Léo Delibes. These singers captured the music perfectly and kept the audience captivated. The concert continued with a piano duet of En Bateau by Claude Debussy and a saxophone-piano duet of Aria by Eugène Bozza from Neha, Anika, Sophie and Xaviella. It was wonderful to be able to see both students and alumni singing and playing at such high levels. 

The first half of the concert continued with three choral groups; Hummingbirds singing Avec La Garde Montante from Carmen by Georges Bizet, Chamber Choir singing Cantique de Jean Racine by Gabriel Fauré and Senior Choir singing Barcarolle from Les Contes D’Hoffmann by Jacques Offenbach. Singing a mixture of French and English lyrics brought everyone together and being able to sing alongside professional musicians including alumna Zara on the harp was a magical experience to say the least!

To end the first half, two students read some French poetry followed by our guest Capitaine de Frégate Jerôme Daems giving a speech about allyship between England and France.

The second half of the concert began with Camerata performing L ’Amant Anonyme Overture by Chevalier Saint-Georges and La Mer Verma by Charles Trenet featuring soloist Anvi Verma. These performances were delightful to listen to as well as to see students from across the school having fun performing together. Café Orchestra and Wind Band performed next playing two pieces each; Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger by Daft Punk, Comptine d’un Autre Été (Amélie) by Yann Thiersen, The Pink Panther by Henry Mancini and Lady Marmalade by Crewe & Nolan respectively. Playing the piano in Wind Band, especially in Lady Marmalade, was a fantastic experience as this piece was very well known to many of us meaning our enthusiasm shone through the performance!

Written by: Serena, Year 13