“Under the direction of Elizabeth Bates, the Chantry Singers produced a refined sound, clear and fresh. In the final chorus in particular - a setting of ‘Worthy is the Lamb’ that is lighter and more graceful than that in Handel's Messiah - they did ample justice to one of Bach's very finest works.”
Rian Evans in The Guardian – April 2003

Bach Festival Weekend - April 2008

"The remaining cantatas afforded the Choir an opportunity to shine, and it did."

"This choir of some 45 voices appeared in the two main events of the Festival, both of which were conducted with vitality and a good sense of appropriate style by (Elizabeth Bates) herself."

"All in all, a considerable success and, as anyone who has ever mounted a programme of three or more of Bach's cantatas knows full well, no mean feat.  More please."

Nicholas Anderson in 'Early Music Today' - June/July 2008

Bath Abbey - Saturday 5th May 2007

"The opening Fauré Requiem set the mood with its hushed tranquil opening shimmering in the air, the organ balance exactly judged...... It was a stunning performance, every part contributing yet balanced and intensely satisfying.  The organ accompaniment was close to perfection."

"Conductor Elizabeth Bates must be delighted, not only with the quality of the singing, but with a very handsome contribution to the restoration fund.  So will St Michael's."

(Note: the concert was given in aid of the restoration fund for the Church of St Michael, Broad Street, Bath.)

Bath Abbey - Saturday 17th March 2007

"More treasure from the Baroque music mine, uncovered by Elizabeth Bates, boldly daring to go where none have ventured before...in the company of an improbably named German composer called Heinichen, to explore the parts previously unreached.  (Heinichen) was born two years before Bach and his Mass in D major is full of life and colour with some splendid brass writing, as well as evocative strings and woodwind, immaculately played by Peter Holman's Baroque group, The Parley of Instruments.

This was a well-balanced and impressive performance from the choir, full of rhythmic urgency...  It was a thoroughly enjoyable newly discovered piece, both to hear and, I should judge, to perform."  Bath Chronicle

St John the Evangelist Church, South Parade - Saturday 14th October 2006

For lovers of the baroque this was a sumptuous comparison between the two masters, Bach and Buxtehude, whose lives overlapped by 22 years.......

Conductor Elizabeth Bates' meticulously planned programme highlighted the quality of Buxtehude and the development achieved by Bach over the next 50 years.

The opening Buxtehude Cantata 'Der Herr ist mit mir' .... is a joyful piece, with its harmonic progression contrasted with the greater complexity of Bach Chorales which followed, sung with artistry and dynamic shading, showing us the range and depth of Bach's masterhand.

An evening full of fascinating musical interest and quality performance, dedicated to the late Richard Coulson.

St Mary’s Church. Bathwick Saturday 1st July 2006
The concept of pairing has lots of interesting associations, Think of the speed and elegance of the serve and volley at Wimbledon.

This concert paired different settings of the same sacred texts, which requires not only a compendious knowledge of the vast range of material available, but the musical Judgement to make the right match. Director Elizabeth Bates got it just right in an eclectic programme spanning 450 years, from the Tudors to the present day.
From this plethora of music, performed with grace and style, coupled with joyful exuberance, in the relative cool of St Mary's, I particularly enjoyed the unaccompanied Magnum Mysterium from Victoria and the contemporary American composer Morten Lauridsen, beautifully balanced, catching the air of mystery and wonder, fresh and tuneful and the Cantate Domino by Hassler and Rutter, again unaccompanied, full of lively bold colours and eminently singable, with a snatch of plainsong to add piquancy.

We had another lovely combination of Messiaen and Tallis in O Sacrum Convivium, the different colours and styles contrasting wonderfully well. On the organ, Kenneth. Leighton's Veni Creator was given an expert outing by Mark Swinton, bold and extrovert. The final Rutter O ClapYour Hands, full of life and high spirits, with a bravura organ flourish, sent everyone home with a smile. Bravo to Elizabeth Bates and her splendid company of musicians.
Peter Lloyd Williams

"The fine sound produced by the chorus was controlled at every level."
Raimund Herincx

"The singers' voices blended effortlessly in a spiritually sublime sound."
Tim Bullamore

"The dazzling six-part textures showed an amazing skill and confidence. Perhaps the key to the excellent choral singing was the careful husbanding of resources, so that the tone always remained fresh."
Nicholas Stuart

"Scarlatti's Stabat Mater....was the highlight of this evening, where the choir, under Elizabeth Bates' discreet direction, was all the more impressive in its restraint."
David Date

"The choice of music was imaginative and the singing was polished and refined."
Clive Ponsford

"Their performance was so musical and so well controlled that one could be drawn away from how the sounds were made towards what they expressed, affording the best of musical experience - glimpses of revelation."
George Odam

".....this classy combination of soloists, players and chorus gave a performance to savour - well judged tempi, dynamic contrast and finely balanced ensemble, especially the interplay between choir and soloists."
Peter Lloyd Williams