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LEICESTER
MERCURY
10/12/07
MESSIAH
DE MONTFORT HALL, LEICESTER
SAT 06 DEC 2007
CRISP MESSIAH ENDS ON A REAL HIGH
This year's
Messiah experience was provided by the London Mozart Players accompanied by the
Leicester Philharmonic Choir.
This is a most exuberant performance of an arrangement by Mozart which trips
along with great tempi throughout. There was delicacy and crispness.
Alexander Shelley conducted and I loved his style.
He had great rapport with everyone and got instant reaction to his requests,
with great effect - superb differential in dynamics, giving some lovely moments.
Ben Johnson, tenor, gave us an elongated "Comfort ye" but his "Every Valley" was
crisp.
Bass David Kimberg used his rich voice to give us a strong "Why do the nations?"
The mezzo-soprano Patricia Orr was superb in "O thou that tellest" and the
soprano Kerstin Pohle, with her clear voice, gave us superb examples of "He
shall feed his flock" and "I know that my Redeemer liveth".
The choir had excellent ensemble, full toned, balance and gave us very good
diction.
This chamber orchestra, as always, was excellent (with a tiny glitch) and a
superb accompaniment. The organist was Jonathan Gregory.
Of course, the amazing climaxes were a glorious "Hallelujah Chorus" and the
final "Amen Chorus". Such a high!
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