Missa brevis - Palestrina
Cello Suite No 4 BWV1010 (exc) - Bach
Miserere - Allegri
Ave Maria - Verdi
Ave verum - Liszt
Canite tuba in Sion - Palestrina
The National Chamber Choir gave the second concert in their Making Connections series on Wednesday evening. The Shaw Room of the National Gallery was well attended for a programme which showed some of the ways in which the style of Palestrina was perpetuated and adapted in later centuries. One change in the advertised programme was announced. Because of illness, cellist Emma MacNaughton was replaced at short notice by Arun Rao, who played two movements from Bach's Cello Suite No. 4 BWV1010.
Palestrina's Miss brevis is an underrated masterpiece. It was good to hear it and the motet which closed the concert, Canite in tuba Sion, sung with a spring in the rhythm. Allegri's Miserere is overrated; but this performance, especially from the solo quartet, gave it a muscular aspect which was a welcome change from the usual angelic cooing.
I wish that words had sometimes been clearer - Latin is one of the easiest languages in that respect. And the fade-out diminuendo used at almost every ending, even at the end of the Gloria, became all-too-predictable. Nevertheless, this concert's security with difficult intonation - including the infamous challenges of Verdi's Ave Maria, focused variety of choral tone, and individual characterisation of each piece, made it one of the best I have heard.
Making Connections continues at the National Gallery on 13th July at 6.30, with a programme centred on Bach. The NCC will be conducted by Celso Antunes.
