Review: The Fragile Shell
"Four million years ago" is where our story starts. This year's Junior school residency project by Sinfonia Viva was prompted by the limestone gorge at Cresswell Crags, where Britain's only known ice-age rock art was discovered in 2003.
Kids from four Derby schools - Springfield Primary, Chellaston Junior, Asterdale Primary and Lawn Primary joined with Cresswell Junior and Whitwell Primary for The Fragile Shell, a cycle of songs reflecting the changing seasons, by composer and workshop leader James Redwood and librettist Hazel Gould. Slotted in between them were songs that the individual schools had created, on themes ranging from ice-age life to today's climate change concerns, reflecting aspects of their visit to the site in May.
Redwood's score, and his orchestrations of the schools' songs, had his usual imaginative flair, with a highly effective open-ended ending. There was incisive playing from Sinfonia Viva, and conductor, and Viva's choral advisor, David Lawrence presented and directed the performance with great aplomb. But, as usual, the abiding impression was of the kids' commitment and energy. The confidence with which they took to some quite sophisticated melodies, rhythms and part-writing was amazing.
Mike Wheeler
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