An Evening with Mozart Review
Dear Scholars Baroque Aotearoa,
Well done, every single one of you. Your performance on Friday night of Mozart's Requiem lifted this listener and I'm sure many others to a place above and beyond the unsettled world we are living in.
As your director, Chalium Poppy has doubtlessly drummed into you, it is more than getting notes right, Germanic Latin pronunciation, phrasing etc. (important as these things are). What you achieved was Mozart's intentions. He was not only fulfilling a commission but increasingly writing for his dying self. Maybe he felt to write for all mankind as we search to be saved from the terrors and anguish of the unknown and yearn for solace in the relinquishing of our humanity.
I can imagine the placing of the choir behind the orchestra and mostly out of sight of the audience went down like a lead balloon with you all. How quickly you must have had to adapt and accept the situation. Be assured your voices rose up, floated over the orchestra filling every space in Holy Trinity. How well you responded to Peter Walls' direction and interpretation. Your commitment and determination did not come across as hard slog but rather resulted in effortless beauty. I don't know if there were any "bum" notes. There were one or two hesitant entries but who cares? Nothing down here is perfection! Sopranos, your graceful singing reached a high Bb (?) with apparent ease. The blend of SATB was very satisfactory.
Chalium Poppy, your director and bass soloist, plunged down to the depths of the Tuba Mirum, his rich musicianship and technique not failing him. The quartets in the Mozart Requiem are of sublime beauty. The Opus Orchestra and Scholars Baroque Aotearoa with conductor Peter Walls presented a compelling sound painting of Mozart's Requiem that will long be remembered.
With gratitude,
Christine Leaf
