As it was performed in Dublin, this day 13th April 1742; so it was in Tauranga on Saturday night at St. Mary's Catholic Church in the city. Not the monumental Messiah of collaborations of choirs and scores of musicians but the more intimate assembly of the only auditioned early - music based choral ensemble in the Bay of Plenty and stunning soloists and musicians skilled in baroque technique.
Under the inspired direction of Chalium Poppy, Scholars Pro Musica (now Scholars Baroque Aotearoa) with the NZbAROK Chamber Orchestra and soprano Jayne Tankersley, countertenor Stephen Diaz, tenor Iain Tetley and bass Jonathan Eyres measured and poured the sweet redemptive messages of the Messiah for an audience so newly quieted by current events of terror and loss, now rapt in awe of such great music.
Poppy excelled in his marriage of solo voices, honouring the dedicated discipline of the Scholars to deliver an astonishingly contemporary confection of rapidly moving melodious baroque music, the perfect placement of exquisite suspended sound and the contrasting swell of triumph and majesty.
A thoroughly elated audience thundered its applause for 26 Scholars, 4 superb soloists, NZbAROK magic and a talented and devoted Musical Director.
Maggie Farmer
Saturday, 21 November 2015
St. Mary's Catholic Church, Tauranga
