The Gisborne Singers
  • Home
  • About
    • Members
  • Current
  • Gallery
  • Recordings
  • News
  • History
    • Life Members
    • Stephen Brockman
  • Contact

A fine review for Magnificat and Stabat Mater

1/5/2012

0 Comments

 
Picture
Gisborne Singers: Bach’s Magnificat & Haydn’s Stabat Mater: April 1 Woodend

Applause heralded the entry of the Gisborne Singers into a full St Ambrose hall.   Director Stephen Brockman gave a little eyebrow raise, which spoke of his sense of fun and anticipation. 

Bach’s Magnificat is a challenge.  It is a fine line between a complex interweaving and an almightly mess.  The Singers were always on the correct side! The opening chorus, Magnificat was joyous, whilst the Omnes Generationes pulsed with life. The Fecit potentiam was a display of power, although the peppering with hissing consonants was a minor quibble. 

We heard from the new flame-haired alto soloist Charlotte Betts-Dean, whose security of pitch and time, and self-possession, belies her youth.  The richness in her voice is obvious and will surely increase.  Charlotte is a great addition to other well-loved soloists Catherine Pendelich, Peter Mander and Manfred Pohlenz..

The young orchestra was a pleasure to hear. There were playful flutes, a gentle heartbeat from the cello, and the trumpets were always ‘spot on’ – an excellent thing in a trumpet.  The strings were confident, although slightly unyielding when accompanying a soloist.

I suspect some listeners find the length of the Stabat Mater a challenge.  However, they could not have failed to appreciate the dignified yet impassioned delivery.

The concert concluded with well-deserved foot-stomping and sustained applause. 



 
0 Comments

    RSS Feed

    Author

    The Gisborne Singers.

    Archives

    January 2022
    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    April 2017
    March 2017
    September 2016
    May 2016
    October 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    April 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    June 2013
    February 2013
    October 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    November 2011
    October 2011
    August 2011
    May 2011
    March 2011
    January 2011
    November 2010
    October 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    May 2010

    Categories

    All