Conductor Jim Wrightson should have been proud. The choir was faced with a considerable challenge. The composer's call for great walls of sound at times, contrasting with quiet, gentle, contemplative passages.
And they did it. Sopranos were a little flat at times - but given that Mozart and his contemporaries thought the women could cope with long lines of top B flats all the time - then they did well.
The Coronation Mass was a considerable success. Soprano Michaela Bloom was bright, if a little acerbic at times while baritone Michael Parle showed considerable poise.
And the Requiem? The opening Kyrie was massively positive and a quite magnificent Dies Irae followed from Michael Parle. But it was the quartet in the Dies Irae which made this work,including mezzo-soprano Nicola Dunne and tenor Robert Gardiner, demonstrating how to work as an ensemble.
The Mozart Requiem is no easy work but Hoylake did it admirably.
Who said local choral societies are defunct? Sing on for ever, wherever you may be!
