Reviews
"… Joubert deserves an honoured place among the composers who succeeded to the mantle of Britten and Tippett."
Roderic Dunnett
Please click the link to read "John Joubert: an Appreciation" by Kenneth Birkin.
Five Songs of Incarnation
“This cycle deserves to be adopted as a treasured addition to the seasonal concert repertoire. Its depth and integrity, both in musical, structural and textual terms, marks it out as a refreshing antithesis to the shallow, fluffy, pseudo-spirituality produced by so many contemporary popular purveyors of choral music.”
Rebecca Tavener, Organist’s Review, May 2011
An English Requiem
Premiere, 9 August 2010
Gloucester Cathedral
Carolyn Sampson soprano, Neal Davies bass-baritone
Three Choirs Festival Chorus, Philharmonia Orchestra
Adrian Partington conductor
“…passionate, beautifully crafted and profound… one could easily imagine Elgar, VW, Howells, Britten and Walton nodding their heads in approval (and, perhaps, recognition) as Joubert’s majestic climaxes, astringent harmonies and poignant melodies echoed around the Gothic arches.
Tracing a journey from mortal terror and earthly prayer to Judgment Day (fanfares and drums to rival Verdi), a triumphant declamation of faith, and finally transcendental tranquility, the Requiem seemed a far more convincing assertion of belief in the afterlife than is usually encountered in the Anglican Church… Under Adrian Partington’s assured direction — and happily with the composer present — the Three Choirs Festival Chorus and the Philharmonia Orchestra gave a thoroughly prepared and committed performance. I hope that it, too, has an afterlife.”
Richard Morrison, The Times
“John Joubert has written a most impressive and eloquent work … music that is worthy of the sentiments expressed in the text … Adrian Partington clearly believes in the score and his conducting was first rate in every way, drawing a performance of great conviction from everyone on the platform. John Joubert was present to receive an extremely warm and well–deserved ovation.”
John Quinn, Music Web International
“This atmospheric work … progresses from a realization of the inevitability of death to an embracing of it, for instance in the lovely passage “God will wipe away every tear; there will be no more death.” Joubert’s use of his soloists … is powerful and rapturous … instrumental passages yield memorable colourings.”
Roderic Dunnett, Church Times
“An English Requiem is a work of weight and substance, abetted by the composer’s fine musical imagination. It deserves many more outings.”
Roderic Dunnett, Music and Vision
Fellowship of the Stretched String, op.165
Premiere, 1 February 2009,
Wigmore Hall, London
Fretwork with Clare Wilkinson mezzo-soprano
“The last work (John Joubert's Fellowship of the Stretched String) in some ways was the most life-affirming of all. From the swooping cascades of strings into the cleverly interwoven quotations from Dido's famous 'Lament' and 'Che faro senze Euridice' (and even 'Music for a while') it is simultaneously never less than whole within itself. Clearly inspired, Joubert's dance-like conclusion — delivered with delicious brio by singer and strings — would have been a highlight of anyone's programme.”
Music & Vision Daily
Oboe Concerto, op.160
"Much acclaimed at the Lichfield Festival premiere last July... the Oboe Concerto confirmed its stature as a major addition to the repertoire... throughout there is the genuine engagement of a composer who doesn't know the meaning of note-spinning."
Christopher Morley, The Birmingham Post, 20 March 2008
"To anyone familiar with the work of this fastidious and directly communicative composer, it will come as no surprise that his new concerto succeeded in being enjoyable as well as accomplished and beautifully crafted … plainly the product of much accumulated wisdom … Joubert's concerto was the jewel in the crown of the 2007 Lichfield Festival."
Paul Conway, Tempo
Wings of Faith, op.143
Premiere, 22 March 2007,
The Oratory, Birmingham
Ex Cathedra ·
CBSO
Conducted by Jeffrey Skidmore
“A magnificent achievement, fully deserving of the sustained ovation it received. The loudest cheers were reserved for the composer — deservedly so, for Joubert has created a compelling, grippingly scored and cleverly constructed sequel to Bach’s St Matthew Passion.”
Paul Conway, Tempo
“… sounded as gratifying to sing as it was luscious to hear, its unpretentious sincerity was deeply touching.”
Richard Morrison, The Times
“… the warmth of response from a packed, enthusiastic audience must surely have gratified this much-loved composer as much as it touched the hearts of the rest of us … the CBSO was resourcefully responsive to Joubert’s brilliant orchestral writing.”
Christopher Morley, The Birmingham Post
“… a magnificent achievement by any standards… Wings of Faith is a gold nugget – or rather a whole golden garland…”
Roderic Dunnett, Music & Vision
“The composer was on hand to share in the enthusiastic reception of what may well prove to be a necessary addition to the canon of English choral classics.”
Richard Whitehouse, Classical Source
An Hymne of the Nativity, op.146
18 June 2007
Newcastle Bach Choir at the King's Hall, Newcastle
“Joubert's is a rich and varied sound world where dissonance adds expressive depth and rhythm is at once complex and natural sounding. But, however involved the detail, the larger form is always clear, the `sunrise' theme marking the route to a blazing climax.”
Thomas Hall, The Journal
Piano Trio, op. 113
"Joubert's Piano Trio, like virtually everything he has written is shot through with conviction. His use of melody, harmony and rhythm is fused with a logic and cogency that always makes perfect sense … imaginatvely conceived and thrillingly structured."
David Hart, The Birmingham Post, 2007
Four Latin Motets [op. 89], Lines from ‘The Youth of Man’ [op. 90] and Three Portraits [op.97]
"Four Motets, Lines from the Youth of Man and Three Portraits show the composer just as at home with secular as sacred texts. This is choral writing of unusual richness, probably complex but exhilarating to sing, and certainly inspiring for the listener."
Andrew Mayes, The Recorder Magazine, 2007
Three Portraits [op.97]
"… a work whose harmonic directness, and economy of means make such a powerful emotional impact."
David Hart, Birmingham Post, 26 March 2010
Prelude on ‘York’, Annual Festival of New Organ Music, Oct 2007
"John Joubert's Prelude on 'York' was a beautifully constructed miniature that reminded us once again of how finely crafted this composer's work always is. It was good to hear it in this his 80th birthday year played with sensitivity by Martin Stacey."
Thomas Hyde, The Organ, Feb-Mar 2008
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