The Lassus Scholars and its junior-choir partner, Piccolo Lasso, were founded in 1996. Since then, and after an uncertain start, the singing of both choirs has improved significantly.
Their Christmas concert, last Thursday night in the National Concert Hall, was a pot-pourri of three substantial contributions from one or both choirs under their director Ite O'Donovan, plus solos and ensembles - mostly of the lighter kind - from singers Niamh Murray, Colette McGahon, Doreen Curran, Matthew Gilsenan and John Magee, violinist Gillian Williams (who also led the Orlando Chamber Orchestra) and pianist Celine Kelly. At the end there were carols and other Christmas music.
Piccolo Lasso's performance of the revised version of Eric Sweeney's Missa Brevis showed that these 42 boys and girls have developed in vocal quality and confidence. This is not an easy piece, but it is well-designed for young voices and everyone coped well with its complexities of rhythm and pitch. They were ably supported by Una Russell, whose lively organ playing was one of the evening's consistently strong points. The two choirs combined for three late Renaissance motets and a rare performance of SaintSaens's Oratorio de Noel for choir, five soloists, orchestra, organ and harp.
Ite O'Donovan wisely chose a belt-and-braces approach to most of this music. It inspired confidence. However, the Lassus Scholars need to improve blend, especially in the men's voices, while Piccolo Lasso has yet to achieve that touchstone for a children's choir - strong tone in low register. The concert nevertheless suggested that these choirs, which were founded partly for educational purposes, are heading in the right direction.