St Matthew Passion - Bach
The Guinness Choir and Orchestra gave an absorbing performance of Bach's St Matthew Passion on Sunday. They were well-aided by the Choristers of St Bartholomew's. This music requires principal soloists strong in musical intelligence. That is what it got, despite some technical inconsistencies. John Elwes (tenor) was a superbly dramatic, sensitive Evangelist, and Michael George, as Christ, had suitable gravitas. The light-toned, alertly expressive singing of Fionnuala Gill (soprano) was always pleasing. So was the feel for text and music shown by Niall Morris (tenor) and Colette McGahon (alto). Philip O'Reilly (bass) excelled in "Come, healing cross", aided by the excellent gamba obbligato of David Hatcher.
The Guinness Choir had problems with some of the more elaborate choruses. Nevertheless, the concert saw them at their overall best.
David Milne's conducting of this highly-contrasted score was impeccably paced. Although the choir sometimes needed a firmer hand, his willingness to let the musicians shape things for themselves was liberating.
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