We are delighted to have received positive feedback from so many music experts and enthusiasts. Here is a flavour of the comments we have received from collaborators and concert-goers.
What people say about us …
Flexible, responsive, versatile
The very model of what a good chamber choir should be – flexible, responsive, versatile in its repertoire and a pleasure to listen to.
John Rutter, CBE | composer and conductor
A fine chamber choir
I enjoyed working with this fine chamber choir: they sang Bach stylishly, displaying good tuning and blend, and had been very thoroughly prepared by Ralph Woodward. They were quick to respond to ideas and suggestions in relation to the music, vocal technique and enunciation of the text, and this made for a stimulating evening’s work.
Stephen Cleobury | Director of Music, Choir of King’s College, Cambridge
Very exacting for choir and orchestra alike
What a wonderful evening I had in St John’s! In the first half I really enjoyed partnering with the Sinfonia and the Fairhavens; what a joy to see the voice ranges mingled! You could see the pleasure and hear the lively results. I was so happy to listen to “Ave verum Corpus”: its depth and grandeur in that place took my breath away, and brought all of us I think close to tears. But for me the greatest experience, which I will never forget, was to hear the MacMillan piece; extraordinarily courageous writing, very exacting for choir and orchestra alike, but I cannot imagine it better realised than it was that night.
Emma Kirkby
Beautifully presented… Fairhaven Singers left us gasping for more
The singers’ standards were of the highest... They have a strong muscular sound equally at home with powerful musical drama as with tender harmony.
The Cambridge Critique | Read full review
A joy to collaborate with the Fairhaven Singers
It was a joy to collaborate with the Fairhaven Singers and Ralph Woodward. As well as singing beautifully, they were wonderfully responsive to all my ideas, and gave everything to make the premiere of Sappho Sings memorable and thrilling.
Jonathan Dove | composer
A mammoth performance
a mammoth performance that held one transfixed from beginning to end
Rosemary Westwell | Read full review
Beautifully poised and tranquil final section
One of the leading chamber choirs in East Anglia, the Fairhaven Singers presented a carefully collated recital under their musical director, Ralph Woodward. ...The singers caught the mysteriousness of the antiphonal, quasi-plainsong opening and brought spirit to the driving central episode before calm was restored in the beautifully poised and tranquil final episode.
Musical Opinion Quarterly (January – March 2017) | Read full review
A very fine concert indeed
Right from the start it was apparent that this was going to be a very special performance ... Conductor Ralph Woodward obviously loves this music and knows exactly how it should work; controlling his disparate forces with admirable economy of gesture, he ensured that every moment had its full effect. A very fine concert indeed.
Lark Reviews
Bags of energy and vitality
Fine, well-blended singing, and bags of energy and vitality.
Christopher Hogwood | Founder of the Academy of Ancient Music
Expressive feeling
The Fairhaven Singers were conspicuous for vivacity, unanimity of ensemble, sweetness and fulness of tone, flawless intonation, and, when the music called for it, expressive feeling. Long may they flourish!
Robin Holloway | composer and Professor of Music, University of Cambridge