December 2000 Recital Review
- Allan Cooper (The Press and Journal) -
ABERDEEN CHOIR GETS FULL HOUSE
"Aberdeen Bach Choir conducted by James Lobban got a full house in St. Machar's Cathedral last night and for one of their most challenging programmes too. The Choir's strongest performance was in the work which concluded the programme - Messe Solennelle by Jean Langlais. Here, the singing had real intensity as well as power and with a magnificent organ accompaniment played by guest organist Michael Harris it kept me on the edge of my seat.
Not the best music though. That was the piece that opened the performance, the Motet Komm, Jesu, Komm by J.S. Bach and the Prelude and Fugue in C Major, BWV457 with whcih organist Michael Harris followed it. The choir took several bars to settle down at the start of the Bach Motet, though after that the singing took off.
Neither of these was for me the most enjoyable, however, That went to Leonard Bernstein's Chichester Psalms scored for choir, organ, harp and percussion. The very different moods of the work's three sections were beautifully captured and treble soloist Scott Shepherd's gloriously pure voice and effortless delivery made a deeply moving contrast with the richer, more earthy singing of the choir. This was why the psalms had the most emotional impact."
Page last altered by Margaret Downie on 7th January 2001.