On
Saturday, January 21, a large-sized audience was inspired by a rare concert
that sublimely resurrected the utmost beauty inherent in Baroque music. The
supremely noble interior of Montreal’s
new Bourgie Hall (Montreal Museum of Fine Arts) with it stunning array of
stained glass windows was sacredly fitting to the Magnificat program offered by
conductor and recorder player extraordinaire Matthias Maute and his Ensemble
Caprice. The choral music sung by the18
artists offered typically reverent praise of God in lyric. The effect was
magical mysticism. Bach’s Magnificat and Arvo Pärt shared most of the
compositional honours – the former having been born in 1685, the latter still
living. Yet the message of each was clearly similar as each verse resounded
brilliantly in the Baroque vein; the technical virtuosity of the vocalists and
mid-sized orchestra was noticeably unified. The message was mainly of praise,
glory and humility, though solemnity and reference to those who shun God’s
omnipotence was evident in Part’s Magnificat. In each of his two choral songs,
the choir was godly in tone and phrasing. The voices were immeasurably unified;
the harmonies were glorious in colour and mood. The final notes, always
lingering into the distance until silence spoke the final beat. Soloists
Shannon Mercer (soprano), Philippe Martel (bass) were particularly captivating
in Bach’s Magnificat. Matthias Maute’s
lively energy swooped over the musicians, leading them on to perform with gusto
the Bourée and Gig in Bach’s Suite III BWV 1068. Although it got off to an
uneven start, an exquisite balance of expression and tempo effortlessly
overtook the first flaws of looseness in the overture.
The program opened with Antonio Lotti’s Crucifixus à 8,
and tears came to my eyes. This choir was outstanding. Superb colouring and a
multi-layering of voices in deep minor harmonics was both haunting and
eternal. Finally, in contrast, the
robust energy of the entire ensemble showed off its spritely sparkle in Bach’s
Magnificat. Everyone left feeling uplifted - that all was right with the world.
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