A Magnificent 80th: Review of Sir John Rutter St Paul’s Cathedral Birthday Celebration

Robert Draws – British composer Sir John Rutter is a true national treasure. He is renowned as the “doyen of the singable tune” and “the composer who owns Christmas.” From royal weddings and coronations to countless carol services, Rutter has dominated the anglophone choral scene for six decades. Celebrating his 80th birthday, a packed St Paul’s Cathedral in London hosted a magnificent concert featuring the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Bach Choir, all conducted by Rutter himself. The evening was a polished, enjoyable, and distinctly English musical celebration.

Conquering the St Paul’s Acoustic

The magnificent dome of St Paul’s Cathedral is known for its challenging acoustics, where every sound can ricochet powerfully. However, the acoustic proved no match for Rutter. Rutter is a master craftsman who worked with the cathedral’s foibles. He carefully inserted tiny pauses to allow complex chords to fully bloom. He also let the extraordinary reverberation take over gracefully at the end of each musical number, demonstrating his deep understanding of the space. The cross-generational audience sat in rapt silence throughout the long program, a testament to the enduring appeal of Rutter’s music.

The Programme: Premieres and Pastoral Majesty

The concert program featured two large-scale choral works by Rutter himself, sandwiching a classic piece by Ralph Vaughan Williams.

1. The World Premiere: I’ll Make Me a World

One of the highlights was the world premiere of Rutter’s I’ll Make Me a World. The piece showcased miraculous diction from the Bach Choir and the RPO’s ability for musical code-switching. Baritone Jonathan Brown and mezzo Melanie Marshall led the work, guiding the audience through subtle, gentle references to African American spirituals, blues, and gospel music.

2. The Vaughan Williams Centrepiece

Nestled between Rutter’s works was a majestic performance of Vaughan Williams’ Symphony No 5. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra smoothed out the “rougher edges” of VW’s pastoral modernism. The result was an expensive, blended sound from the strings, leading to irresistibly majestic climaxes, topped by gleaming brass sections.

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3. Rutter’s Cantata: The Gift of Life

The evening concluded with Rutter’s 2015 cantata, The Gift of Life. Setting a range of religious texts, this piece offered a compelling mix of musical elements:

• Tender melodies and snazzy syncopations.
• Broadway-ready orchestral introductions.
• Sopranos illuminating the texture’s upper reaches.

The cantata was predictably polished and visibly enjoyed by every musician on stage, cementing Rutter’s status as a virtuoso of the singable tune. The celebration was a fitting tribute to a niche national treasure who continues to define the choral landscape.

This article is sourced from theguardian and for more details you can read at robertdraws
Writer: Sarah Azhari
Editor: Anisa