This is an ultra romantic piece based on an ultra Catholic poem by Cardinal John Henry Newman. It details the spiritual progress of a soul as it passes through Purgatory en route to Heaven. For a number of years Anglican churches in England either left out the overtly Catholic parts or refused to allow the work to be performed.
It was conducted with great energy and passion by Kent Tritle. The soloists were Sara Murphy, mezzo-soprano, John Bellemer, tenor, and Sidney Outlaw, baritone.
Ms. Murphy has a glorious voice that easily encompassed the wide-ranging role from below the passaggio to above the staff. She is a truly fine singer.
Mr. Bellemer has a splendid tenor voice, more in the British style than the Italian, but perfect for this role.
Mr. Outlaw has a fine baritone voice and sang his part very well.
The 230 voice chorus found the perfect work for itself, adding swaths of sound and orgastic climaxes where needed. After hearing similar groups last week and the week before in the Brahms Requiem, which was vastly under-sung, and Bach's St. John Passion, which wallowed around in an overly-romantic presentation, it was a pleasure to hear the right choir singing the right work under the right conductor.
Next season will open with Jane Glover conducting Britten's War Requiem. David has already signed up for that one.
Might I suggest a work like Walton's Belshazzar's Feast as a possible future concert?
(I apologize for the differing sizes of pictures but I have to take what I find on the net.)
