LUMINOUS SETTING

SHIRLEY RATCLIFFE attends a John Tavener première

The concert given by the Anonymous 4 and the Chilingirian Quartet in Queen Elizabeth Hall on 17 October formed part of the Ikons of Light: The Inspirations of John Tavener festival running throughout October at London's South Bank Centre.

Two of Tavener's youthful inspirations have been early music and Stravinsky. The concert opened with Anonymous 4 performing extracts from their highly-acclaimed harmonia mundi disc 1000: A Mass for the End of Time. The solemn spareness of the music -- and one can hear where some of Tavener's inspiration has derived -- leaves no hiding place for singers. Anonymous 4 were immaculate. Their blend and intonation are superb and effortless; highly florid ornamentation of the chant could only make one marvel at this tour de force.

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