St Matthew Passion
Garth Wilshere
J. S. Bach – “St Matthew Passion”, Orpheus Choir, Choristers of Wellington Cathedral of St Paul, soloists, Vector Wellington Orchestra, Conductor Michael Fulcher, Town Hall 10 April 2011, Reviewed by Garth Wilshere
St Matthew Passion was a fine swansong for Music Director Michael Fulcher is to take up a position at Brisbane’s St John’s Cathedral.
The excellent quality of all the choral contributions in this big work were a tribute to the preparation and skills of Fulcher who achieved strong entries and attack, weight and detail in the choir’s singing, once it settled down from some initial nervousness.
The decision to place the soloists behind the orchestras with the choir caused some integration and projection problems, and the soloists were variable.
Australian Paul McMahon’s Evangelist was strongly characterised, impassioned, and characterful. Bass, Michael Leighton Jones as Jesus while solid, was lacking in personality. Daniel O’Connor, a few small glitches aside, added some operatic theatricality to his bass recitatives and arias, and managed very well.
Neither soprano Jenny Wollerman nor alto Claire Barton were at their best with Barton’s tuning and pitching distracting. Tenor Andrew Grenon seemed more a chorister than a soloist.
The divided orchestra played well although they were not always energised sufficiently by conductor Fulcher resulting in some muddy textures. The standing ovation by many in the audience, was I feel more for the work, the choir and particularly Fulcher rather the total performance.
St Matthew Passion was a fine swansong for Music Director Michael Fulcher is to take up a position at Brisbane’s St John’s Cathedral.
The excellent quality of all the choral contributions in this big work were a tribute to the preparation and skills of Fulcher who achieved strong entries and attack, weight and detail in the choir’s singing, once it settled down from some initial nervousness.
The decision to place the soloists behind the orchestras with the choir caused some integration and projection problems, and the soloists were variable.
Australian Paul McMahon’s Evangelist was strongly characterised, impassioned, and characterful. Bass, Michael Leighton Jones as Jesus while solid, was lacking in personality. Daniel O’Connor, a few small glitches aside, added some operatic theatricality to his bass recitatives and arias, and managed very well.
Neither soprano Jenny Wollerman nor alto Claire Barton were at their best with Barton’s tuning and pitching distracting. Tenor Andrew Grenon seemed more a chorister than a soloist.
The divided orchestra played well although they were not always energised sufficiently by conductor Fulcher resulting in some muddy textures. The standing ovation by many in the audience, was I feel more for the work, the choir and particularly Fulcher rather the total performance.
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