Symphony No 8 ("Unfinished") - Schubert
Mass in A Flat - Schubert
The Tallaght Choral Society's concert at the National Concert Hall on Sunday night was called "A Celebration of Schubert". Grainne Gormley and the Orchestra of St Cecilia played the symphony in a shapely though phrase-by-phrase way. The first movement was taken at a speed better suited to the rounded attack and long-line textures to be heard from orchestras with more Romantic inclinations than this one. And given the speed, it is all the more important to have longterm goals in mind, and not to be seduced by the beauty of Schubert's many transitions between tunes and phrases. Nevertheless, it was satisfying to hear clean ensemble and a full, blended tone.
The performance of the Mass was patchy, though successful at catching the wideranging characters of the movements. Mary Callan Clarke (soprano), Doreen Curran (mezzo-soprano), James Nelson (tenor) and Nyle Wolfe (baritone), were a cohesive and well-balanced group of soloists. The Tallaght Choral Society was at its best in vigorous music, such as the opening of the Gloria and in the "Cum Sancto Spiritu" fugue, where clear words, lively rhythm and reasonably accurate tuning were a credit to everyone.