St Paul’s Cathedral has experienced many a cacophony of sound over the years both from the outside and from within but Wren’s mighty dome itself was nearly dislodged when....”Valery Gergiev and the London Symphony Orchestra completed their cycle of Mahler symphonies with the gargantuan Eighth. Its first promoter called it the ‘Symphony of a Thousand’, and close to that number must have gathered there on the evenings of July 9th and 10th with an orchestra (reinforced by offstage brass) that stretched the width of the dome itself, an excellent pupil’s choir from Eltham College (cupping their hands around their mouths to project their piping voices - a trick apparently launched by Sir Simon Rattle), the fine London Symphony Chorus and well-drilled Choral Arts Society of Washington DC and eight soloists, seven of whom had flown from Russia.” The Times Friday 11th July
Many people who attended the performances were quick to sing the praises of the ‘Eltham Trebles’, “I thought the Eltham College choir was excellent - a real continental sound” said one while another wrote “Eltham College kids were real stars”. These two sell-out concerts were relayed live on BBC Radio 3 and then recorded for the LSO Live label which is released later in the year. Being part of this musical extravaganza was without doubt the climax of what has been a remarkable year in their professional singing careers.
In March the boys performed at the Barbican in Bach’s St Matthew Passion with the City of London Sinfonia and the London Symphony Chorus. Later in May they were asked to perform in a World Premiere of Chris Williams’ Songs of the Coromandel Coast, a companion piece to his Tsunami Requiem, with the English Philharmonia and Chorus at the Royal Festival Hall. This concert was recorded live and will be on general release later in the year. Eltham College has a working partnership with the Orchestra of St John’s, and the trebles have performed with the OSJ regularly in their Christmas Seasons at St John’s Smith Square. Their talents have now reached the ears of a wider audience and their experiences so far this year will give them many different but unforgettable memories of a year on the professional stage.
Director of Music, Tim Johnson, praises their achievement “It's an enormous honour for the boys to perform with such distinguished musicians. I am sure this is something they will remember for the rest of their lives."
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