Concert Review – December 2025
Posted on by VivCHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR – LYMINGTON CHORAL SOCIETY
The appreciative audience enjoyed a programme of Christmas music, skilfully woven together by Musical Director Phil Daish-Handy, under whose baton the Lymington Choral Society continues to develop, to delight, and to impress.
The evidence of its hard work was clear to the ear. Maestro Daish-Handy’s choice of music set his choristers a formidable challenge, a challenge that they took on in full measure.
With Handel’s name on the programme, one expected to hear a familiar chorus from the Messiah. Instead, Daish-Handy chose two choruses from the oratorio Solomon, ‘Swell the Full Chorus’ and ‘Praise the Lord with Harp and Tongue’.
I suspect, like me, few of those present had heard these pieces before. The choir is to be congratulated, particularly in its singing of the latter, which is scored for a double choir. It must have taken many hours of practice to learn one’s part and then blend successfully together as a whole. Well done!
Encouraging youngsters to sing and perform is one of the many aims of the Lymington Choral Society. So the audience was delighted to listen to Iris Roper-Curzon, still at primary school, performing verses from two carols, both effortlessly and musically.
As well as providing excellent orchestral support to the Choir, the Nova Foresta Philharmonic drew much applause with its rendition of ‘Sleigh Ride’, with Daish-Handy using not only his hands to conduct, but also his right foot, as a hoof!
Accompanying the Choir, the Philharmonic and the Soloist, was pianist and organist Timothy Rice. His contribution to the evening’s musicality cannot be overstated. His playing was pitched and executed perfectly, whatever the scale of the piece.
Daish-Handy introduced me to new works, to unfamiliar versions of established favourites and waved his musical wand with gestures imperial to draw the very best voice from his audience when they were invited to sing.
