Festival Theatre, Malvern – 5th December 2025
Reviewed by Courie Amado Juneau
4****
I have seen Armonico Consort many times and they have never been anything less than fabulous, so the opportunity to see them performing Handel’s Fireworks music was an enticing prospect.
The first half of the programme was given over to Handel’s Te deum. The programme notes helpfully explained how Handel’s “inclusion of military trumpets and timpani… …depict the victory over death” and in this very joyous piece the trumpets were indeed in large part responsible for this euphoric feeling. But the orchestra also shone in the quieter moments with movement 3’s woodwind giving us a sumptuous contrast between winds and tutti which was especially lovely. All the soloists were fantastic and the part with 3 soloists melting away into just the chorus (singers on their own) was extraordinarily dramatic.
Speaking of the soloists… I felt that the balance wasn’t quite right with the full orchestral forces overpowering the chorus. This really stood out when soloists came forward and they could be heard much clearer when in front of the orchestra. When the chorus could be heard though they did sound perfect. Secondly, I wish the programme had photos of the musicians so that us reviewers could name the stars personally to highlight their excellence. Far nicer than “the second soloist” did…
Although not soloists per se, I loved the low strings and organ throughout so they deserve a special mention for the way they enriched the music – I’m a sucker for an organ in any setting.
The second half really took off with Coronation Anthems bookending the Music for the Royal Fireworks. “The King Shall Rejoice” and “Let Thy Hand be Strengthened” gave the players the chance to display their immense skills before Fireworks truly lived up to its name. Martial beats were graced via more powerful timpani work – I believe using period timps and beaters as it sounded rather rounded and perfectly in keeping with the rest of the orchestra (also using period instruments) now augmented by horns.
The concert concluded with two more coronation anthems, building an impressive crescendo which finally broke with that first “Zadok the priest” entry! But that was after some masterful anticipatory strings to build the tension. Blistering stuff to stir the heart now, just as it did back then!
Director Christopher monks gave helpful background information to the original Fireworks Music night fiasco in a speech that was full of wit and charm. This continued in his closing farewell. He has an obvious rapport with his adoring audience and musicians and a palpable affection for Malvern Theatres which is very much reciprocated.
All in all a joyous evening of Baroque musical splendour from one of the Baroque’s greatest composers. Personally I’ll take Handel over Bach any day of the week. In the company of one of the great ensembles of our time playing at the top of their game, this was an evening’s musical feast to savour and I cannot wait till the next time they are in town, which I will not miss (and I advise you not to miss them either). I 100% wholeheartedly recommend that you purchase your tickets to the next concert in their series asap.