Death in Chorus

As a choir makes its way toward a competition that they never seem to win, there are all sorts of goings on among their members, particularly, their dictatorial director. A couple murders are committed and as a result, several wounds are opened. There is unrequited love, a plot to get money through a conspiracy, and all the fallout from that plot. It involves Jones joining the choir to get an inside look. This is possible because he actually has a pretty nice voice. But more fundamental is a history of jealousy and deceit, and actions that bring about the attempted murders of people who have done nothing but get in the way. One is a woman who is being drugged for some reason. She is seen as profligate but doesn't really have any control over what is happening to here. There is also a strange murder of a man who is simply photographing owls in the woods. Confusing. A bit. But the conclusion is quite satisfactory.

Don't be fooled by the chorus setting. This is a tremendous episode. Had a inkling who the villian was, but the ending was a big surprise. Lots of glammed up Joyce in this one. A roll of camera film takes multiple days to develop for anybody yet urgent police work? Lots of bad toupees and overacting but a treat to watch. Vito S 12/18/19

The Midsomer Worthy amateur choir is thrown into panic when baritone Connor Simpson is killed on the eve of the prestigious regional Four Choirs competition. A birdwatcher is also murdered shortly after, and DCI Barnaby and DC Jones uncover bitter rivalry and tense marital relationships as they try to establish if there is a connection between the two cases. Peter Capaldi guest stars

A standard episode with the usual eccentric characters though there's a slight darker tone and intriguing look at choral singing. There's an amazing scene where Barnaby, prone to have breathing after just taking a few steps, jumps in the water to save a lady from drowning.

Again, music and art are the background for an intricate story line. Evidently Midsomer musicians are serious competitors as also evidenced in S5. E3, Ring Out Your Dead.

The piece sung by the chorus in this episode is "Fair Phyllis" (1599) by John Farmer, and is beautifully performed. I don't know if Jane Wymark and Barry Jackson actually lent their voices, but we know Jason Hughes has a very nice voice, as we hear in one scene.

Good supporting cast of many familiar faces. The gentle humor and John Nettles's delivery give it charm. The Bucks architecture and countryside provide their usual elegant background.

Season 9 got off to a brilliant start with "The House in the Woods" while all the episodes in between ranged from decent to very good and "Country Matters" was great and one of the best episodes of the season.

"Death in Chorus" is also a very good episode and in the top end of Season 9. It is let down only really by a couple of parts that could have had more explanation, or at least a clearer one, like the significance of the pig's heart and the whole business with the photos and a somewhat strange second murder. However, it is interesting stuff, especially to see Jones have such a great voice.

The production values as always are top notch, with to die for scenery, the idyllic look of it contrasting very well with the story's grimness, and quaint and atmospheric photography. The music fits perfectly, with some lush jauntiness and sometimes an ominous quality, and the theme tune one of the most memorable and instantly recognisable of the genre. The choral stuff is a great addition.

Meanwhile, the script is smart and thought-provoking with some nice quirky and often hilarious humour, a grimness and with characters that are colourful and eccentric. The story is absorbing, never simplistic, sometimes creepy in atmosphere, never dull, never confusing despite a lot happening and the maturity that 'Midsomer Murders' has when on form is more than evident here. It's all tautly paced and the ending is satisfying and ties things up nicely.

John Nettles is a joy and Jason Hughes brings appeal and nice wry humour to Jones. The two work extremely well together, and the rest of the cast (which include charming Jane Wymark and Barry Jackson and Peter Capaldi enjoying himself as the dictatorial conductor) are uniformly strong.

All in all, very good episode. 8/10 Bethany Cox