{TABLE} Cantata 84 Ich bin vergnugt ................................ Bach Cantata 158 Der Friede sei mit dir ......................... Bach Cantata 151 Susser Trost, mein Jesus kommt ................. Bach {/TABLE} THE Orchestra of St Cecilia began its second year of Bach cantatas at St Ann's, Dawson Street, on Sunday afternoon. The programme, conducted by Geoffrey Spratt, featured cantatas for solo soprano (Helen Hassett in Ich bin vergnugt), solo bass (Philip O'Reilly in Der Friede sei mit dir), and soprano, alto (Bridget Knowles) and bass (Susser Trost, mein Jesus kommt, in which the tenor recitative was given to the soprano). The concluding chorales and the soprano line in Der Friede sei mit dir were sung by past and present members of the Irish Youth Choir.

In spite of the use of just one player to a part, the orchestral playing under Geoffrey Spratt was less than purposeful and anything but light of texture, with little strength of character in phrasing and articulation and, sadly, uncoordinated moments in the recitatives.

The bass, Philip O'Reilly, offered the most rounded and balanced solo singing. The contralto, Bridget Knowles, sounded musically solid and seemed to have innate dignity of delivery but her German was far from convincing. The soprano, Helen, Hassett, boyish of tone and light of vibrato, showed a voice of great potential for Bach. If that potential is to be realised, she will need to take greater care with words and the consistent centering of pitch.

The chorus sang with fresh voiced clarity, making theirs the most consistently rewarding contributions to a musically unrewarding occasion.