Mozart Requiem

More grandiose than lachrymose, this year's Come and Sing event hosted by Holland Park school choir was more ambitious than ever before. During a day's worth of rehearsals, the school choir taught members of the community, teachers, governors, parents and friends the music for this monumental choral work. And it was not for the faint hearted.  Nourished by lashings of tea, coffee, cakes and sumptuous luncheon, the chorus worked tirelessly from 09.00 until late to get to grips with the complexities and requisite virtuosities of Mozart's final work. Joined by his brother, Mr Tom Robson, Mr Nicholas Robson was determined to capitalise on the culmination of three weeks of rehearsals with the school choir. And unlike last year's Messiah, this was Mozart uncut: not one motet missed, nor one fugue escaped, Our Lady of Victories, High Street Kensington, housed the whole opus. And what a venue it was for this most majestic of works. The building in its august spirituality was the perfect setting for this most sacred of works. The towering organ, masterfully played by Matthew Jorysz, gave all the splendour and might of a full-blown orchestra - a tender wind section to the sweetest Benedictus; a forceful brass to the most vigorous Confutatis.  And this unique ensemble of voices was in full strength: a collection of 50 singers from age 10 upwards gave power and puissance to Mozart's valedictory work. No challenge proved too much: the semiquaver runs delivered with control, the homophonic declamations performed stridently and the yearning Lachrymosa charged with emotional depth.  We were delighted to be joined by stunning professional soloists. A soaring soprano (Rebecca Hardwick), a sensitively rich mezzo (Katie Slater) a powerful tenor (David de Winter) and a lusciously resonant bass (Julian Debreuil) brought deft musicality and gentle sweetness to the multitudinous chorus.