Bach - Easter Oratorio & Magnificat - Snape Maltings

I performed with the Aldeburgh Music Club (founded by Benjamin Britten) and the Suffolk Baroque Players at Snape Maltings on Saturday 26th March 2022. Their all-Bach programme featured the Easter Oratorio [BWV 249] and the Magnificat in D [BWV 243], under the direction of their new director, Tom Appleton.

This concert was dedicated to the memory of their former director, Edmond Fivet CBE, who I had the pleasure of playing for on several occasions (including: Handel’s Messiah in 2017 and Handel’s Coronation Anthems in 2019). Edmund and his wife (a very musical couple) were also often to be found in the audience at other concerts at Snape Maltings: I remember seeing them there on past occasions when I was performing with the likes of Vox Luminis, and the Aurora Orchestra.

After the exuberant opening instrumental Sinfonia of the Easter Oratorio, there followed an oboe solo—surely one of Bach’s most desolate— which was performed by Gail Hennessy. It was particularly emotive and emotionally devastating, especially in the current context. My thoughts turned to Edmund, who had planned to perform Bach’s Easter Oratorio in March 2020 before the first Covid lockdown forced all our plans to change. Subsequently, my thoughts turned to the Ukrainian flag which was flying prominently above Snape Maltings—the reeds reflecting in the water imitating the flag’s colour scheme. 

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Gail and Oonagh Lee made for a fantastic oboe section. It was fantastic to play with our usual trumpet section again: myself, Will Russell (2nd trumpet), Gareth Hoddinott (3rd trumpet) and Ben Fullbrook (timpani). We had quite a lot of difficult Bach to play, and it was fantastic to have such a good team.

Since the first lockdown, I have learned to make the most of any opportunity to see the sea. Being from an island (the Isle of Man, if you didn’t already know), the sea is very important to me. So, Gareth and I left at 8am, with folding bikes in the boot of the car. We parked in Aldeburgh and cycled about 15km up and back down the Suffolk coast, via Thorpeness. It had been a beautiful way to start the day, which also avoided the traffic others later endured.

Later in the day, we also enjoyed a brief walk from Snape along part of the Sailor’s Path, towards Aldeburgh, before heading for dinner and back to the Maltings. It was one of those days where you seem to be able to fit a lot in— I even had chance to catch up with my former teacher, David Staff, who volunteers at the nearby RSPB Minsmere.

It was great to hear the Aldeburgh Music Club firing on all cylinders, and performing in their home venue once again!

Russell Gilmour
Russell Gilmour Blog
writing on music, photography, engraving, travel and life as a freelance professional musician.