Schubert Mass in E Flat
by berberis on Nov.12, 2016, under Choir, Concerts, LCS, Rehearsals
Saturday, 12th November 2016, Great Hall, Goldsmiths College.
Schubert: Offertorium, Intende Voci, D963
Mozart: Piano Concerto No 21 in C, K467
Schubert: Mass in E Flat, D950Soprano: Helen Meyerhoff
Alto: Susan Legg
Tenor: Mark Chaundy
Bass: Philip TebbConductor: Dan Ludford-Thomas
Piano: Nico De Villiers
Forest Philharmonic Orchestra
According to a number of the composer’s fansites, Intende Voci is amongst Schubert’s less well known of his religious songs. I have a non-Schubertian ear, so can only guess at why this might be: is it too difficult? is it not difficult enough? too long? too short? too boring? (Oops…what a giveaway. Sorry, Franz.)
I found the Mass in E flat a bit of a curate’s egg: it wasn’t until the andante con moto at bar 145 in the Gloria that it started to appeal. It was slow and dramatic and, although a quartet sang the Miserere, the remainder – especially bars 221-224 – were more than adequate compensation. The Quoniam is over fairly (and thankfully) quickly, and the Cum sancto spiritu is very reminiscent of Bach. We interrupt the soloists every now and again during the Et incarnatus est, and they repay the gesture in the Benedictus. The Osanna gets its customary second airing after this.
By far my favourite section is the Agnus Dei. This has a lovely few (and I do mean few) bars where the altos are not completely drowned out by the brass section. Towards the end, after the Dona nobis pacem, there’s an all-too-brief reprise of the Agnus Dei but, again, the altos are up against the brass and, again, we lose.
All that said, he orchestra were very good, the soloists were on top form, Nico was sparkling in the Mozart, and Dan was as energetic and expressive as usual. However, for the few bars that I really enjoyed, I’d not rush to perform either piece again.
