The Dublin International Organ and Choral Festival launched itself in fine style on Saturday in a crowded St Patrick's Cathedral. The Choir of King's College, Cambridge, presented a mixed programme of choral and organ music ranging from the 16th century (an Ave Maria by Robert Parsons) to the present day (the "Agnus Dei" from Penderecki's Polish Requiem).
The sound of the choir is something that singers and audience seem to relish with equal enthusiasm, and the programme included plenty of celebratory music to highlight the characteristic upper-voice orientation which is one of the choir's hallmarks.
It was good to hear the demanding solo in Mendelssohn's Hear my prayer so well taken by a young treble (unfazed by having to sing it in German), though the piece itself can hardly be said to have weathered well.
Leaving aside the youth of the choir's front row of boys, there would always be something special about hearing a work with the scrunching juxtapositions of the Penderecki sung with the security and confidence that King's has at its command. This was as fine a demonstration of choral singing as Dublin has heard in many a year.
The programme also included two organ solos played by King's College's organ scholar, Benjamin Bayl. Durufle's Prelude et Fugue sur le nom d'Alain was not quite as alluring as might have been expected, but Bach's Passacaglia in C minor was handled with admirable solidity on an instrument which can often sound intractable in Bach.
The Dublin International Organ and Choral Festival runs until Sunday. For information ring 01-6773066
