Christmas Concerts
Chichester Festival Theatre
Until Sat 6th December
The Band of HM’s Royal Marines Portsmouth
and Chichester Cathedral Choir
If you’re not quite ready for diving deep into the Christmas season, then an evening spent at the wonderful Chichester Festival Theatre in the company of HM’s Royal Marines Portsmouth, is guaranteed to ensure you leave the auditorium feeling full of Christmas cheer, mellow and all warm inside as if you’ve consumed a glass or two of Glühwein, or hot chocolate smothered in cream and marshmallows. Once more the wonderful Band of HM’s Royal Marines Portsmouth arrived in Chichester to deliver a spectacular evening of the highest quality of musical entertainment, sprinkled with humour (from the conductors) and laughter (from everyone); smiley faces and happy voices. The stage was a vision of festivity, with 5 sparkly Christmas trees suspended from the ceiling as a backdrop, and the orchestra’s stands covered in glistening tinsel. The Band’s members were resplendent in their red and black uniforms, brass instruments gleaming magnificently, many sporting Santa hats and antlers.
The bandmaster, Captain Trevor Naughton RM, was on top form, full of wit and anecdotes, clearly loving his role. This was no dry orchestral performance, every piece was introduced – as were his soloists – with pride, and the camaraderie between all the band members was an absolute joy. The early appearance of the Corps of Drums was greeted with huge enthusiasm; as ever, their synchronicity and skill simply jaw dropping.
Second in command WO2 Bandmaster Lisa Keachie RM was soon introduced to play her own part in conducting several pieces, relishing her release from the ‘office’ for a week, and demonstrating a competitive spirit in humour to match her ‘boss’!
The whole evening was a musical box of delights. This annual event is always greatly anticipated and supported by audiences, and with a list of no fewer than 25 individual pieces, the range of traditional carols, combined with not-so-well known compositions, classical, comical, soothing and rousing, was inspiring. New arrangements, new themes and overtures – and let’s not forget the traditional ‘Sing-a-Long’ (always a pleasure, never a chore!) – means you have a winning evening of sparkling entertainment.
Of course, an added delight each year is the two sections from the fabulous Chichester Cathedral Choir, directed by Charles Harrison, and it was great to see that it is no longer billed as ‘all male’ as this year the addition of more girls, meaning there are almost as many as the boys (after 950 years!) was a pleasure to see and hear.
Leading into the Finale, with our second Sing-a-Long (greatly improved!) we were given some lovely old favourites to sign off this magical evening, ending with a rousing performance of ‘Hearts of Oak’ merging with ‘Life on the Ocean Wave’, both introduced and delivered with enormous pride.
What better way to start your Christmas than with an evening at the Christmas Concerts, guaranteed to lift your spirits – and your own heart!
Approx 2 hours, plus 20 minute interval
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Reviewer: Gill Ranson