There are some musical masterpieces whose essential character is such that
a routine, a comfortable or even a generally satisfactory performance is a
contradiction of that character. The
Missa Solemnis is certainly
one of those works. The sense of the composer striving to glimpse the
reality behind the words of the Mass must be conveyed to the listener if his
vision is to be shared with the listener.
The present performance was given at a Prom in September 1982 at the start
of the conductor's final season as Principal Conductor of the London
Philharmonic Orchestra. It is not however their contribution to this
performance that is the memorable aspect of this disc; it is that of the
Edinburgh Festival Chorus. The fervour and accuracy with which they sing -
hurl even, when necessary - the composer's often awkward and unexpected
lines at the audience is astonishing. The several much smaller professional
choirs who have recorded the work have inevitably equalled and even bettered
their accuracy but there is something very special about the sound of a
choir of this size in this work that I find remarkably appropriate and
moving. Their chorus master, John Currie, deserves a more prominent billing
than he receives here for his work in ensuring such a dramatic performance.
At the start of the
Credo the repetitions of the word convey
vividly the desperation of a community determined, willing themselves even,
to believe.
Unfortunately the same degree of fervour and conviction is not achieved by
the soloists, who are never less than adequate but seldom more. There is a
surprising lack of individuality, perhaps due to the need to project to the
farthest parts of the Albert Hall. The orchestra play well. Ronald Thomas's
violin solo in the
Benedictus has the right consolatory tone but
the wonderful moment when the first flute appears to personify the Holy
Spirit in the
Et incarnatus goes for little, mainly due to the
recorded balance. It may indeed be that the somewhat matter of fact
character of much of the performance is more due to the BBC sound engineers'
difficulties with the acoustic of the Hall than to any lack of imagination
on the part of the performers. Although I would undoubtedly have loved to
have been in the audience for this performance I regret that what is heard
here on disc, apart from the astonishing conviction of the singing of the
chorus, is not as memorable as might have been expected from performers of
this distinction.
John Sheppard
Previous review:
John Quinn
