Girls' Choir

With tenors and basses bolstered up by members of Derby Male Voice Choir and the sopranos augmented (for one chorus) by girls of Homelands School, the chorus had perfect balance and its singing was marred only by an occasional lack of confidence.

It was at its best in eight chorales, particularly when unaccompanied, and did full justice to the remarkable diversity of Bach's harmonic invention.

Tenor Outstanding

Of the five principals, Eric Greene, who sang the part of the Evangelist, was outstanding. His tenor voice was a beautiful flexible instrument, exquisitely controlled, and used with an impressive dramatic sense.

Scott Joynt (bass), who had the difficult task of singing Christ's actual words, and Kathleen Ferrier (contralto) both gave notable performances, while Elsie Suddaby (soprano) and Bruce Boyce (bass), whose duties were less onerous, acquitted themselves with distinction.

Derby String Orchestra was generally effective, although through a 'cellist's slip it provided the one note of embarrassment during the evening.  The playing of the "imported" wood-wind instrumentalists was above criticism.