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Choir And Orchestra Triumph
13 Dec 1970
Barden School, Barden Lane, Burnley
Long-serving members (from the left): Mr L. Bannister, Mrs D. Latham, Mrs E. Higson, Mr J. W. Hurley, Mr N. Barker and Miss B. Kershaw talk over old times with the conductor, Mr Robert Atherton.
Burnley Municipal Choir's 50th anniversary performance of Mendelssohn's "Elijah" at Barden School hall brought back happy memories for many of its long-serving members on Sunday 13th December 1970. The choir still has one founder member who sings regularly, and over 30 members hold the 21 Years Service Medal.
From a much longer review by J.T:
"Elijah" is a religious and dramatic oratorio of great intensity, and Mr. Atherton, by his meticulous treatment of the tempi, maintained the dramatic content while at the same time displaying a fine sense of taste in the dynamics, the choir and orchestra responding with unfailing discipline. George Allen was a model for the part of Elijah, singing throughout from memory. Doris Atkins and Patricia Lewis sang the duet, "Bow Thine ear to our prayer," in a strictly artistic style, their voices blending exquisitely. Norman Ellwood, as tenor soloist, gave a very pleasant rendering and the attack by the choir in Chorus 5 was magnificent. "Lift thine eyes" by the Burnley Girls' High School choir was one of the highlights of the afternoon. Mr Atherton excelled himself as musical director and the choir, orchestra and soloists deserved the acclaim they received from the audience.
The Mayor and Mayoress of Burnley, the Bishop of Burnley and representatives of the local authority were present during the afternoon. Mr. T. Burrows, chairman of the choral and orchestral committee, welcomed the exceptionally large audience, and gave a short resume of the history of the choir from its foundation in 1920 to the present time. Only three conductors have been appointed during this period, Mr Dan Duxbury, Mr George Altham and Mr Robert Atherton. Three members of the choir and one member of the orchestra had served for the half-century, and remember the concerts in the Palace Theatre.
