Todd McNeal

Barry Millington on Everyone Sang, writing in The London Evening Standard:

Roderick Williams and Susie Allan review: The Great War and its legacy captured imaginatively in word and song

Our Rating  ****

The Great War and the Armistice have been commemorated in numerous ways over the past year but few programmes can have been more imaginatively conceived than that of baritone Roderick Williams.

The English late Romantics and their settings of the War Poets may have formed the nucleus of his sequence but there were fine examples too of songs by more recent composers including the Australian Todd McNeal, Ian Venables, the 91-year-old Elaine Hugh-Jones (teacher of Williams’s accompanist, the excellent Susie Allan) and Anthony Payne (in the audience).

Nor did we languish in the trenches. Rather, the programme fell into eight sections, the first half tracing an arc from imperialistic jingoism and storm clouds, through to a variety of war experiences. The second half brought three composers, then three poets, lost in action, followed by survivors and the legacy. The songs included the familiar, among them Finzi’s Channel Firing and Butterworth’s The Lads in their Hundreds but many that would have been unfamiliar to many (Martin Shaw’s Venizel, written by a soldier on active service at the front in the first weeks of the war), Ernest Farrar’s Silent Noon (with reminiscences of Vaughan Williams’s more celebrated setting) and three by John Ireland (The Cost, In Boyhood, The Soldier). 

As the sequence unfolded, introduced by Williams section by section, we were somehow aware of the long shadow of the Great War pursuing us down the years. His eyes occasionally blazing with anger, at other times divulging a quizzical smile, he is the most engaging of performers. But the arching melodic lines and the tonal colouring of the texts had one hanging on every word. This was important because at the performers’ request no texts were printed in the programme, forcing us to respond to each poet’s and each composer’s flights of inspiration.

Curated by Eric Usadi, the Hampstead Arts Festival is now well established in the London calendar. This recital was one of several outstanding events on offer.

Barry Millington, London Evening Standard

Paul Jarman on Whenever the Wind is High

 “I LOVED it. It is the best new treble piece I have heard in a long time. Bravo.”

Paul Jarman, leading Australian choral composer and conductor

Matthew Swope on The Redemption of Captain Ahab

 “I wanted to let you know that Ahab was a HUGE hit with my tenors and basses and with the audience.  We had a large and diverse program, and many folks commented that it was their favorite piece of the concert.  My students immediately fell in love with the piece and threw themselves into telling the story, communicating the text, and coloring each different section of the ballad with their tone and musicianship...it was wonderful seeing these students come together and being so driven by a piece of repertoire.  I cannot thank you enough for that!”

Matthew Swope, Director of Choral Activities, Winter Park High School, Florida

Rosemary Collier on Three Poems of Walter De La Mare, writing in Middle C

“...Next were settings of three poems by Walter de la Mare, by Todd McNeal, a contemporary Australian composer.  ‘Five Eyes’ I knew in another composer’s setting, but this was a most effective one.  The boys sang it in a sturdy and clear manner, and conveyed a picture of cats capturing ‘the thieving rats’.  ‘Silver’ was once well-known to primary school pupils (maybe it still is): ‘Slowly silently, now the moon/Walks the night in her silver shoon’.  The setting had a serene, calm feeling, as did I, listening.  These boys know their music and words very well... These were...three skilful settings, sung well.” - Rosemary Collier 

— Middle C, Classical Music Reviews

TAXI A&R on Let it Go, Brother

“Excellent song. great simple country gospel melody and a really well written lyric, beautifully focused, straightforward, and poetic. no negatives here at all. this is a really strong song …hey there todd - i really dig this song. i love the lyrical construction, really gives it a traditional folk gospel feel that is refreshing to hear. this is a very contemporary & relevant song that also has a timeless quality to it due to the deft use of traditional styles. everything is working fine here, and i don't have any negatives whatsoever. even in this simple stripped down form the song comes through loud and clear. great job…it is a really terrific song, plain and simple.”