Rutterly Glorious
St Paul’s Cathedral
Saturday May 30, 2026
A very large audience in St Paul’s Cathedral on Saturday evening enjoyed a spirited musical programme presented by the Southern Youth Choir under the artistic leadership of John Buchanan.
This was a concert of two halves. The second half was devoted to two major 20th century choral masterpieces, both deftly conducted by Buchanan.
The choir was joined by a brass and percussion ensemble with David Burchell (organ).
Parry’s I Was Glad thrilled with the resonant, excited, vibrant, majestic choral sound created by healthy young voices in full throttle.
The facial expressions of the singers were a delight; they were totally ‘‘in the zone’’, loving every sound they made.
Diction was clear, intonation precise, and the balance between ensemble and choir worked well.
Rutter’s Gloria followed.
Here the opening text was heightened by the tight rhythmic acuity of the instrumental ensemble — the choral entries, especially those of the sopranos, soared effortlessly in the acoustics of the cathedral.
Despite the imbalance between male and female voices, the choral sound was consistently pleasing.
After a contemplative middle section, the rhythmic drama in the ensemble returned for the final section, effortlessly echoed by the choir.
The Amen ended with bravura, leaving the audience awestruck.
The first half featured a variety of smaller pieces.
The large choir sang a dramatic opening, a South African folk song Siyahamba choreographed with three different entrances, showcasing rhythm and enjoyment.
Buchanan’s support of student conductors (Tessa Campbell and Ewen Clarke-Wallace), young soloists (Eva Stein and Ameera Woods), multi-talented choristers (violinist Aubane Farcy), and young local composers is admirable.
Chorister Clara Satherley conducted her own composition Forest Blessing which revealed interesting use of choral colours.
The chamber choir paid homage to Benjamin Britten with two of his smaller choral works, and a Stanford gem.
Instrumental offerings from Sage Pettus (organ and piano) and Farcy (violin) revealed the depth of talent in this exceptional group of young choristers.
