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SEEN AND HEARD UK CONCERT REVIEW
Giovanni Gabrieli, Purcell, Rachmaninov, Traditional, arranged by Mack Wilberg and Nigel Short and John Rutter: Tredici, Richard Thomas, St Giles–in–the–Fields, St Giles High Street, London, 19.11.2010 (BBr)
Giovanni Gabrieli: Angelus ad pastores ait
Henry Purcell: Lord how long wilt thou be angry and Hear my Prayer
Rachmaninov: 6 excerpts from Vespers, op.37 (1915)
Traditional American, arranged by Mack Wilberg and Nigel Short: The Dying Soldier
Rutter: Hymn to the Creator of Light (1992)
Tredici is a 28 voice chamber choir, which, under the direction of Richard Thomas, is as happy in music of the Renaissance as it is in our own century. This recital was typical of their wide ranging programme planning. Gabrieli’s Angelus ad pastores ait was given with the singers in the gallery, allowing for the double choir writing to be clearly heard. I found this quite exhilarating.
Purcell’s two works were well contrasted with the strange dissonances of Lord how long being well achieved by the singers and lingering long in the memory. I must be honest and admit that I find Rachmaninov’s Vespers a piece I cannot warm to in its complete form, but when offered six movements, as here, the music seems quite approachable, but it is surely too austere to be considered attractive. Liz Shirras was a full voiced soloist in the Blagoslovi, dushe moîa (Bless the Lord, O my soul), and the full choir made a rich and full sound when required, if never sounding quite like a Russian chorus – but without those magnificent Slavonic basses how could they?
The Traditional American song The Dying Soldier is one I had never heard before and it is beautiful in its simplicity and effortless grandeur. This arrangement is for solo baritone – well taken by Peter Quintrell – with chorus, but it failed to live up to its promise for there was too little for the chorus to do and insufficient variety of interest in the writing. Tredici did what it could but it deserved better.
To end John Rutter’s splendid Hymn to the Creator of Light, written for the dedication of the Herbert Howells memorial window in Gloucester Cathedral, during his centenary year. This is one of Rutter’s most searching works, not an easy piece to perform, and that Tredici succeeded is to their credit and the dedicated guidance of its conductor. This was a most welcome lunchtime’s music in a beautiful setting.
Bob Briggs