Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, December 20, 1994 TAG: 9501190018
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV8 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: SETH WILLIAMSON CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
The Christmas concert by the Master Chorale, for many one of the highlights of the New River Valley holiday season, is generally less ambitious than the group's fall and spring concerts, but it's usually more fun.
James Bryant conducted the concert in Blacksburg Presbyterian Church.
This edition of the Blacksburg Master Chorale did not represent the group at the absolute peak of its form. A number of the chorale's better section singers are taking this semester off and their absence was noticeable in a choral blend that was not as seamless and sumptuous as I've heard from this group before.
On the other hand, the Master Chorale on an off day is still better than any other chorus in the area, and the nearly sold-out crowd obviously enjoyed itself.
The concert began unexpectedly with the men of the chorale intoning "Personent Hodie" (better known as "On This Day, Earth Shall Ring") from the rear of the church nave. After processing to the front of the church, the choir invited the audience to sing along with "O Come, All Ye Faithful" from the Presbyterian hymnal.
There was a tactical difficulty with a few of the audience-participation carols. The concertgoers sang so lustily on some numbers that the organist at the back of the nave couldn't hear the Master Chorale at the front and the tempos didn't quite match at times.
Two choruses from "Messiah" came off well, beginning with "And the Glory of the Lord" at a sedate tempo. Eluned Jones, a prize-winning singer of Welsh folk music, soloed in "O Thou that Tellest Good Tidings" with a pleasant contralto.
It was audience participation time as Bryant invited listeners to sing the chorus of John Rutter's bouncily syncopated "Star Carol." The women of the chorale were tentative in spots with Max Reger's "The Virgin's Slumber Song," which they sang in a not-very-confident-sounding German. The men did a lovely and unfamiliar carol called "Shepherds, Shake Off Your Drowsy Sleep."
The chorale never sounded better than on the beautiful acapella chorus "The Blessed Son of God" from Ralph Vaughan Williams' Christmas cantata "Hodie." Everything came together for this beautiful number as the singers showed what happens when a fine chorus and good music are perfectly matched. It would be satisfying to hear the Master Chorale do the entire "Hodie" one Christmas.
Most of the second half of Friday night's concert was devoted to two masterful arrangements from "The Many Moods of Christmas" by Robert Russell Bennett and Robert Shaw. The singers generally did a good job with these difficult but effective medleys. The two-piano accompaniment, however, sounded throughout as if it needed more rehearsal.
Jones again soloed in "What Child Is This?" from the first medley, which was followed by "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," "Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella" (sung in French), and "Angels We Have Heard on High." The second medley had many fine moments, with a lively version of "I Saw Three Ships."
The concert ended as Bryant invited both audience members and Master Chorale members who are taking a semester off to join in the chorus "Hallelujah!" from "Messiah." The conductor even provided a number of scores on a first-come, first-serve basis, and 30 or 40 extra singers responded to his offer. The concert ended on a standing ovation (admittedly easier to get when you schedule the "Hallelujah!" chorus as your final number).
Seth Williamson produces news features and a weekday afternoon classical music program on public radio station WVTF.
by CNB