MOZART'S Requiem was the main work in the Cantores Salicium concert at St Michael the Archangel Church, Kirkby Malham; the longest and biggest work the choir has tackled to date.
This was preceded by a number of works by Victoria, Tallis and Byrd, characterised by an impressively assured technique, a wonderful clarity of tone, great variety of dynamic and immaculate diction from this excellent choir. All these qualities were maintained in the Mozart Requiem.
Conductor Lindy Williams adopted generally brisk tempi for the Mozart which maintained the drama of this unique work throughout, without ever compromising its more reflective passages.
The solo parts were taken by members of the choir, Lucy Checker, Jo Wulf, who stood in at the last moment for Cheryl Arber in the Domine Jesu, Jessica Mahler, who stood in for Cheryl in the Recordare and the Benedictus at 48 hours’ notice, Phil Andrew, Kenn Green, Chris Weston, Danny Powell and Phil Simnett, all of whom were impressive, combining most effectively in the lyrical parts of the Recordare and the Benedictus.
The choir were joined for the Mozart by organist Nicholas O'Neill, the choir's president, who also delivered an instructive and very entertaining introduction to the work. Recreating orchestral textures on the organ brings unique challenges, met superbly and consistently by O'Neill, who conveyed all the varying colours of the score flawlessly.
David Chapman
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