Save-the-Dates

Ensemble Monterey Chamber Orchestra

Mass in B Minor Review by Nathalie Plotkin

Reaching new heights of musical achievement in the concluding concert of their season, the Ensemble Monterey Chamber Orchestra and guest choral group Cantiamo Vocal Ensemble joined forces in a collaborative effort which brought the Bach “B Minor Mass” to musically soul satisfying life.

The wealth of great and memorable music compressed into the Mass is simply phenomenal. The huge challenge in the effort of making this monumental undertaking of two hours of unremitting concentration and expressed devotion into an intellectual as well as intelligent and cohesive whole, is enormous in its demands on the interpretive abilities and even physical endurance of the performers and their conductor John Anderson.

The Mass belongs to the chorus which carries the main burden of the performance of the work and the Cantiamo singers trained by Cheryl Anderson, shone throughout in their contributions to the concert, for this was a concert even though the text is from the liturgy of the church.

From the opening “Kyrie” which was delivered with pure tone and quiet majesty on through the brilliantly voiced “Gloria” sparked by bright trumpets, the lively combination of instruments and voices created a bright and jubilant effect.

The voices were flexible, meeting the interpretive demands of the texts with well coordinated phrasing, clear diction and well produced tone and the orchestral support was very fine.

This was true of the triumphant sounding “Gratias” fugue and was sensitively contrasted later with the depth of seriousness of the “Qui Tollis” movement.
Other choral highpoints included the “Cum Sanctum Spiritum” with the choral exuberance enhanced by the orchestra which entered fully and brightly into the musical fray.

The “Credo” which was performed most impressively by the Cantiamo singers as they ranged from its imposing ringing tone and then progressed to the quiet tenderness and sadness of the “Crucifixus”, and then came the contrast of the glowingly powerful, celebratory “Et Resurrexit”.

And yet there was more excellent choral singing until finally a prayer for peace “Dona Nobis Pacem” brought a noble conclusion to a long night’s transporting musical achievement.

Some of the loveliest music in the Mass is written for the soloists. Sopranos Linda Purdy and Chloe Smart made lovely vocal contributions in their arias. Tenors Colin Morgan and Jorge Torrez and basses Stan Neff and Art Schuller were all stalwart interpreters of their music.

Many of the arias featured instrumental obbligatos. Noteworthy soloists, all drawn from the ranks of the orchestra were, among them, violinist David Dally who was also a splendid participant in the continuo accompaniments for the arias. Flutist Lars Johannesson, oboe d’amore and oboe soloist of outstanding ability Peter Lemberg, trumpets Jim Dooley, Kevin Jordan and Charles Old, horn player Scott Hartman and the continuo of bass Stan Poplin and harpsichord Leah Parker added much to the unity of the work.

Conductor John Anderson kept a clear and controlling hand over the hardworking, musically inspired orchestral musicians and the superior and excellent choristers of Cheryl Anderson’s first class choral entity “Cantiamo”.

Congratulations to all for a rare and soul satisfying musical experience.