Memorable Singing of Choral Union
Derby Choral Union's performance of Bach's St. Matthew Passion last night was the most memorable and significant local musical event for years.
It was memorable because not only did it provide Derby music lovers with an all to rare opportunity of hearing one of the most profoundly moving choral works in the literature of music, but set a standard of execution which the choir can rarely have equalled.
It was significant because it gave striking proof of how pitifully equipped Derby is regarding concert accommodation. The performance of a choir of 150 voices and a double string orchestra, called for a far more worthy and ample setting than the Central Hall could provide.
Reverent
The "Matthauspasion" is not a work to be undertaken lightly. Apart from its technical pitfalls, which are considerable, it is of so highly emotional and reverent
a character that the slightest shortcomings in performance stand out almost as acts of sacrilege. By careful planning and discerning editing, John Pritchard, conducting the work for the first time, kept the performance to within three hours, without impairing its narrative continuity.
Even so, to an audience imprisoned in hard, creaking chairs, it seemed that even further pruning would have been advantageous. |
Girls' Choir
With tenors and basses bolstered up by members of Derby Male Voice Choir and the sopranos augmented (for one chorus) by girls of Homelands School, the chorus had perfect balance and its singing was marred only by an occasional lack of confidence.
It was at its best in eight chorales, particularly when unaccompanied, and did full justice to the remarkable diversity of Bach's harmonic invention.
Tenor Outstanding
Of the five principals, Eric Greene, who sang the part of the Evangelist, was outstanding. His tenor voice was a beautiful flexible instrument, exquisitely controlled, and used with an impressive dramatic sense.
Scott Joynt (bass), who had the difficult task of singing Christ's actual words, and Kathleen Ferrier (contralto) both gave notable performances, while Elsie Suddaby (soprano) and Bruce Boyce (bass), whose duties were less onerous, acquitted themselves with distinction.
Derby String Orchestra was generally effective, although through a 'cellist's slip it provided the one note of embarrassment during the evening. The playing of the "imported" wood-wind instrumentalists was above criticism.
At the piano, Rhoda Newman was quietly efficient.
Derby Telegraph,
March 27th, 1947 |
