Bezett starred in ‘truly superb’ performance

YOUR music critic’s lukewarm review (ODT, 1.4.19) of what was in fact a truly superb performance of Bach’s St Matthew Passion,

marvellously and energetically directed by Dunedin’s Oxfordtrained maestro David Burchell at the town hall, cannot be allowed to pass without comment.

Burchell’s spirited and fine coordination of the two orchestras and massed three choirs, and the uniformly excellent vocal soloists and the standout performances of the brilliant flautists and woodwind players — several of them internationally credentialed — was nothing short of masterly; but was virtually ignored by your reviewer.

Among the soloists deserving of much more constructive attention was Otago’s own 21yearold baritone Scott Bezett who, performing with full orchestra and massed choirs for the first time, acquitted himself simply marvellously in the role of Jesus and was deserving of much more than the passing mention your reviewer deigned to give him.

Bezett’s impressive stage stance, confidence, diction, breath control, aptly flexible vocal timbre and tonal strength, timing and phrasing, his fine command of German, his fastdeveloping sense of the dramatic and his youthful musicianship called to mind those demonstrated by Dietrich FischerDieskau in the same role in his early years and in his immortal 1960s recording of the Passion under Otto Klemperer’s direction.

In my opinion, young Bezett was plainly deserving of much more attention than the passing, almost grudging comment he got from your reviewer; and ought to have received at least a modicum of heartfelt and unselfish encouragement from her at this critical stage of his extremely promising singing career.

Michael Weizmann

Roslyn

[Abridged. We do not believe our review was ‘‘lukewarm’’. Our reviewer referred to Scott Bezett’s performance as ‘‘outstanding’’, and said his voice ‘‘carried well, reflecting sound technique and hours of preparation.’’ — Ed]