Polished performance by the Choral Society (From Hereford Times)

Polished performance by the Choral Society

2:15pm Monday 20th November 2006 in Leisure

FOR a seasoned choir Beethoven's Mass in C and Mozart's Requiem are familiar enough, and Hereford Choral Society gave competent, polished performances of both works.

Conductor Geraint Bowen took Beethoven's Kyrie rather leisurely for an Andante con moto (Mozart's Hostia, marked simply Andante, was conversely quite hurried), but in general paced most movements very well.

The Gloria of the Mass was briskly and vividly sung, and the "Et vitam" section of the Credo went at breakneck speed, making the quaver runs sound like balls of wool unravelling.

Elsewhere, too, one would have welcomed more textural definition - Mozart's Kyrie fugue was just one example of deftly delivered counterpoint lost in the Cathedral's all-absorbing acoustic - although choral balance and phrasing in slow, quiet passages - notably Beethoven's Sanctus and the Requiem's Lacrymosa - was always sensitively observed.

Neither work offers extended solo opportunities but the soloists here contrasted and combined very effectively.

Mezzo soprano Susanna Spicer and baritone Matthew Brook's vibrant richness impressed greatly, as did the clean-cut delivery of tenor Nathan Vale. We must certainly watch the progress of Elin Manahan Thomas, a young soprano whose distinctively piping voice will gain more tonal variety and colour as it develops further.

Marches Baroque, the serviceable period-instrument band that plays regularly for these concerts, provided orchestral support. Although the narrow-bore brass (including an excellent trombone obbligato in Tuba mirum) sounded suitably authentic, woodwind intonation often left much to be desired.

David Hart