Christ Hospital troupe at the performance

If Theodore Mathieson were here today, one could well imagine his indulgent chuckle at the long tribute of words made to the Mathieson School for its goals to provide a musical education for the underprivileged children it supports.

During his time, Rev. Father Mathieson was at the hub of it all, a juggernaut of activity, playing it by ear and from the heart. In commemoration of his 10th death anniversary, a Grand Final Concert was held at Kalamandir on October 30 (why ?final?, I cannot imagine) by the staff and students of the 400-year-old Christ Hospital West Sussex UK, and students of the Mathieson school here. The concert was supported by the British Council and Christ Hospital Choral Society.

Anup Biawas, director and founder of the Mathieson School, has been the driving force behind its growth, raising funds through performances and forming relations with such institutions as Christ Hospital whose principles are similar to those of Mathieson in that it provides opportunities for the underprivileged children.

On Saturday evening the students of both schools presented a programme of music and dance that was refreshingly entertaining. It began with works by Handel, Warlock and Vivaldi, featuring Timothy Callaghan on the violin and the Cello Concerto in D by Haydn with soloist Anup Biswas, whom audiences of the city remember for his early and brilliant performances during visits, significantly his epic tour of the J.S. Bach Cello Suites; but that was long ago. The first half of the programme concluded with the aria for soprano and oboe from the Bach Cantata opus 170. There followed an interlude of Kathak dance by the smallest students of the Mathieson School.

The woodwind quintet of the Christ Hospital then gave a disciplined performance of three Hungarian dances by Farcas. After that the brass quintet played an arrangement of the Promenade by Mussorgsky from the Pictures at an exhibition followed by an enthusiastic rendering of a Gershwin medley consisting of Fascinating Rhythm, Summertime, Lady Be Good and I Got Rhythm.

The Christ Hospital sang a la capella, Locus Este (This Place is Dedicated to God) by Bruckner with some very fine soprano voices and excellent harmonic intonation. An interesting interpretation of Tchaikowsky?s 1812 overture, full of verve and great percussion, brought the evening to a close.