Verdi’s Massive Mass
by berberis on Nov.11, 2007, under Choir, Concerts, LCS, Rehearsals
Saturday, 10th November 2007, Blackheath Halls.
My, but this is BIG. And it’s got everything; slow bits, fast bits, quiet bits, loud bits, slow and quiet bits, loud and fast bits. It’s the one with the bit that goes ‘laa la la la la la la lalalalalalalalala laa lala‘ which is fine for the 1st sops but fairly dull for everyone else. You know the one… it’s used in advertising almost as often as O, Fortuna.
Despite that, I really enjoyed singing this, mainly because it’s so… so Italian. Whilst the aforementioned Dies Irae is thrilling to listen to, much more satisfying to sing are the Rex Tremendae, which ends in the almost sobbing plea of ”Salve me” and the Lacrymosa, which contains some delicious phrases and lovely harmonies.
Movement 4 is the Sanctus, which fair bounces along until towards the end, when you can open your throat and give it some really welly on the breves and semi-breves of “Hosanna in excelsis”. This is countered beautifully by the following Agnus Dei, all ppp and precise pitching.
The final movement, Libera Me, starts with some very soft voicing by the chorus before the soprano solo, none of which I remember because I simply could not wait to get to the final fugue. After dispensing with the Dies Irae opening, you get the andante Requiem aeternam which is actually quite difficult, as the chorus needs the most precise timing, tuning and volume control to accompany the soprano.
From the final top B, she then bursts out with the beginning of the Libera me before the altos lead in the chorus, the orchestra interrupting every few bars with some amazingly quick, thrusting arpeggios. Just when you think it’s over, it surges again; the final Dum veneris is incredible to sing, but too short!! It’s over almost before it’s begun, and the juggernaut finally slows to a halt with a repeated sigh of Libera me.
Definitely one to do again, and soon.
Soloists: Cheryl Enever (soprano), Joanna Gamble (mezzo-soprano), Stephen Brown (tenor), Simon Preece (baritone).
Aurelian Symphony Orchestra: Leader Michael Gray.
Conductor: Stefan Reid.
