Saturday 21 June 2008
St Mary's Church, South Woodford

SONGS OF THE BRITISH ISLES

A showcase of music inspired by the British Isles

The Meljon Singers made it all seem so easy. As well as demonstrating their technical accomplishments they produced a magnificent sound - clear and bright or warm and mellow as the occasion demanded, and all with impeccable tuning.

Madeline Seviour Ilford Recorder



Saturday 1 March 2008
Holy Trinity Church, Hermon Hill

RACHMANINOV ALL-NIGHT VIGIL
("Vespers")

РАХМАНИНОВ
ВСЕНОЩНОЕ БДЕНИЕ

The complete Vespers performed by candlelight
followed by a
Russian-style reception



Janette Ruocco's wonderful choir always provides veritable musical treats, and this was no exception.
The flavour of Orthodox chant and Byzantine rite was unmistakeable.
... glorious warm moments ...
... rich sonorities and colours ...

Michael Crombie Ilford Recorder









Saturday 17 November 2007

St Mary's Church, South Woodford

INHERITORS

celebrating the rich inheritance
from the classical and romantic traditions



"the double choir Mass in E flat ['Cantus Missae'] by Rheinberger showed The Meljon Singers at their best, with beautiful legato phrasing in the Kyrie, ending with a deeply felt emotional Agnus Dei." Andrew McIntosh  Ilford Recorder




Saturday 17 March 2007

Barnardo's Church, Barkingside

DIDO & AENEAS

A concert performance of the classic chamber opera,
and other works by Purcell


"Under the masterly direction of Janette Ruocco, [Dido & Aeneas] was a remarkable musical experience.

The unaccompanied anthems were sung with exquisite tone, pitch and balance."
- Don Fletcher Ilford Recorder




Saturday 21 October 2006

St John's Church, Loughton

ECHOES

From plainchant to popular song:
Themes, ideas and musical traditions
that link composers down the centuries

"I was completely bowled over by the Whitacre ["When David heard that Absalon was slain"]- the range of colour and emotional intensity that [The Meljon Singers] brought to the performance was absolutely thrilling."

"An adventurous programme, exciting and very challenging. The singers gave a very polished performance. They are well-trained and very musical, with excellent intonation and diction. They sang not only in very clear English but also in Latin, Italian, French and Russian… musical director Janette Ruocco leads them with confident authority."
- Andrew Golds



Saturday 1 July 2006

Christchurch, Wanstead

MODERN MYSTICS

"Mesmerising!"












29 April 2006

St Peter's Church Westleton, Suffolk

A EUROPEAN JOURNEY

"I cannot believe they are an amateur choir!"

"Many pieces were sung in the appropriate language with impressively accurate pronunciation. … I particularly enjoyed the Russian choices with the basses of the choir producing that dark, rich quality of the Russian bass singers." - Esme Sillito

"The programme, A European Journey, was exciting in its range and the skill and professionalism of the singers, under their conductor Janette Ruocco, was impressive. We were privileged to be there." - Peter Hecker



11 March 2006

St James's Piccadilly

EIN DEUTSCHES REQUIEM

"The Meljon Singers shed new light on some great 19th century choral music … under the magnetic direction of Janette Ruocco … The purity and delicacy of the sopranos particularly contributed to the intimacy and delicacy of what can often seem a weighty repertoire." - Sally Zimmerman






10 December 2005

St Mary's Church Woodford

FRENCH CHORAL CLASSICS

"An evening of assured and expressive singing of the highest quality by an admirable choir … Ilford has every reason to be proud of such a local treasure and its skilful director Janette Ruocco." - Alan Pegrum



29 October 2005

Barnardo's Church, Barkingside, Ilford

A JOYFUL NOISE

"An intriguing trip through the byways of choral music … The variety was extraordinary. Janette Ruocco's singers brought their usual sweetness and skill to these varied works."
- Alan Pegrum