Scandinavian odyssey could benefit from some fine-tuning

Dundee University’s director of music Graeme Stevenson could be described as a musical fisherman, trawling the depths of the repertoire to bring the unusual, the unexpected and the unknown. However, I wasn’t entirely convinced with the programme of Scandinavian music he concocted on Sunday night, performed either jointly or individually by the university choirs and orchestra. Most of it I liked, some didn’t appeal at all.

Carl Neilsen’s Homage to Holberg, with text by Hans Pedersen, falls into the latter category. With the first part for four soloists cut due to mitigating circumstances, the remaining two short choral items ended the evening with some uncertainty on the part of the audience.

Otherwise, there was no cause for complaint with the programme, which started off on a particular high. I had never heard of the Swedish composer Wilhelm Peterson-Berger but I had heard the University Chamber Choir before and I’ve always considered them to be the aces in Graeme’s pack. Sunday night’s performance of the composer’s 8 Part Songs pushed them even higher.

Excellent balance, excellent control and excellent phrasing – all the attributes you expect from a seasoned outfit but particularly pleasing when sung by a youthful ensemble. There was bags of variety, but the contrast in mood of the songs was met by authority, competence and musicality.

They followed that with Eriks Esenvalds’ Stars, an atmospheric piece, given a wonderful touch of surrealism with the singers also contributing sound from tuned wine glasses. Quite innovative and marvellously effective.

The choir’s performance of Kim Arnesen’s Magnificat suffered on occasion through lack of volume and clarity of diction. The last piece of the Scandinavian jigsaw was Greig’s Lyric Suite. The orchestra were on more familiar ground here and provided a fine performance.