Review: The rodolfus choir, Bath abbey

This remarkable choir - just 20 singers, all under 25 - isselected by conductor Ralph Allwood from the Summer Choral Coursesheld each year at Eton College.

Among their objectives are the promotion of choral music and theachievement of excellence.

In this sense, then, they are special - dare I say elite singers,and Bath's own Grenville Jones is one of the trustees of theRodolfus Trust, where his promotional flair will be valuable inbringing their music to an even wider audience.

And on the evidence of this concert, their already burgeoningreputation is well deserved.

The first half of the programme ranged from Tallis to Parry, aspan of 300 years, and the opening Tallis motet was sungantiphonally in four groups.

I particularly enjoyed Lotti's Crucifixus, beautifully phrasedand plangent, a delectable Schubert Litany, arranged by theconductor, Bruckner's Christus factus est, and, to finish Parry'sgreat hymn of triumph, I was Glad, with a quite magnificent organaccompaniment from David Goode.

There might have been 50 or 60 singers, such was the sheer volumeof sound, of quite superb quality, with a soprano line mostconductors would die for, young fresh voices in full bloom, scalingthe heights with fearless confidence.

The tenors were especially effective too, and the whole ensemblesound was balanced, expressive and beautifully controlled.

The second half was 20th century and contemporary music,Jonathan Dove, Tavener's Song for Athene - well done the basses, yousustained the low drone to splendid effect - Howell's Te Deumgracefully shaded, an exquisite Eric Whitacre piece, I Thank youGod, Rutter's The Lord Bless you and keep you, very vocal andunderrated, sung with great feeling, and finally, a David Willcockschoral setting of Vidor's famous Toccata, called simply Sing, whichthey did with tremendous panache and energy, the organ again infine form.

David Goode, the head of keyboard at Eton College, gave us two satisfyingly contrasted works: Bach's Art of Fugue and Messiaen'sTransport de Joie, splendidly played with great technical skill,using all the colours of the Klais organ, a rare treat.

A quite exceptionally talented combination of young musicians:come again soon.

Peter Lloyd Williams