Our local newspapers chose not to review this concert, it seems. I, at least, have not seen one and this surprises me as I thought they would want to document Jane Glover's WSO evening.
From my perspective I was happy to have performed the "wohin" section in Aria No. 24 and come out of it unscathed. I was quite exhilarated by the fact that I did not miss a single one nor did I add in any extra "wohins". I feel I could take this show on the road, so if you need a Wohinner I'm your alto.
In Chorus No. 23 "Wir haben keinen Konig" my companion and I were the only ones to come in on time singing out the "WIR" but to our chagrin no one else came in so it looked like we were wrong. I was relieved when a tenor approached me after the concert to say, "you know you were right on that entry in No. 24, I didn't come in since she didn't look up at the choir" He was right about that, the conductor did not cue us for this entry as she had been doing for all the others but I still did not appreciate being left high and dry in front of all those people singing "WIR" as a duet.
Backstage, prior to concert, Ms. Glover came to address the choir which not all conductors do. She said she knew she had not paid us much attention in the dress rehearsal and that was because we were actually quite good and she had other things to attend to. However, she wanted us to be
1. more sneering in "sei gegrusset"
2. more ugly in Kreuzige
3. more personal in the Chorales
4. more lawyer-like in the Hohenpriester choruses
I think the choir managed to fulfill all 4 requests but since there is not the benefit of a post mortem with her I cannot be sure.
The Concert Hall was not sold out and this was a bit of a downer when we first get out there and saw the empty seats but once the orchestra began to weave the magic of the opening chorus started I forgot about that.
I am not a musician so my opinion will not mean much but I thought the continuo was so well done by our principal cellist, Yuri Hooker, and the oboe playing was absolutely divine. Principal oboist, Bede Hanley was sitting within arm's reach of me and I was basking in the sound.
Soloists, Lawrence Wiliford, Christopheren Nomura, Karina Gauvin and German born Eva Vogel all did their parts well. Although Bach really does not give the solo women much to do, the arias they do sing are gorgeous.
So that is another Easter concert season finished. Advent seems a long way off.
That is quite the accomplishment mastering the "wohins".
ReplyDeleteHah what a feeling to come in alone but YOU WERE CORRECT! oh dear when a conductor always cues one in I count on it.
Sounds like it was a wonderful meaningful worship concert as Bach intended.