REQUIEM

Coro

Wesley Uniting Church, Forrest July 14

 

Reviewed by Len Power

 

Coro’s latest program featured composers’ works that have more under the surface than might be immediately apparent. The program of individual items worked very well together.

Founded in 2011 by composer and conductor David Mackay and singer Paul Eldon, Coro is an award-winning chamber choir which has built a reputation for its innovative approach to performance and repertoire.

Donald Mackay, conductor

Conducted by Donald Mackay, the choir commenced with Maurice Duruflé’s Motets, composed in 1960. Their singing was beautifully clear and accurate. The second motet performed by women only was sensitively and memorably sung. There was great depth in the singing throughout and the finale was sombre and reflective.

Next, Nicholas Michael Smith’s recent choral work, Salve Regina, was an Australian premiere performance and the choir sang it with strength and conviction, the words making it a strong plea for mercy.

The third item, The Country Of Marriage, was a world premiere performance. Composed in 2014 as a wedding gift by this concert’s conductor, Donald Mackay, the text was from a few lines of the poem, The Country Of Marriage by Wendell Berry. It was a beautiful work with sensitive singing by the choir. Tenor, Paul Eldon and baritone, Daniel Sanderson, were featured and sang their parts with great feeling.

There was also a rich, colourful arrangement by John Aue of James Yorkston’s 1883 work, Molly Malone, as well as Oliver Messaien’s O Sacrum Convivium, haunting and beautiful in its complexity. The choir gave a fine performance of both works.

Barbara Jane Gilby

In a change of pace, one of Erik Satie’s Gymnopédies was given a sensitive performance by the string orchestra with Barbara Jane Gilby, who also did the arrangement, playing the violin part.

The final work of the program was the Requiem by Gabriel Fauré, performed by choir and orchestra. In seven parts, its focus is on eternal rest and consolation. The work has dramatic as well as quiet moments, all of it achingly memorable. The soloists were Jang Hee Han, bass, Hannah Bleby, soprano, and Andrew Fysh, bass. They, the choir and the orchestra gave this the work the sensitivity it needs. It was a highly satisfying performance to end this excellent concert.

 

Photos by Peter Hislop

This review was first published by Canberra CityNews digital edition on 15 July 2024.

Len Power's reviews are also broadcast on Artsound FM 92.7 in the ‘Arts Cafe’ and ‘Arts About’ programs and published in his blog 'Just Power Writing' at https://justpowerwriting.blogspot.com/.