Fest offers powerful musical journey.
The 81st annual Bach Festival provided Central Florida music lovers with a journey Saturday night both lovely and powerful. The first half of the program featured three shorter pieces evoking three different nations, while the second half was devoted to Gioachino Rossini’s “Stabat Mater.”
The “Stabat Mater” comes from a 13th-century Catholic hymn reflecting on the sorrow of the Virgin Mary as she watched her son, Jesus, crucified. The combined strength of excellent orchestral musicianship and passionate singing by the choir made for a powerful start to the 10-movement work.
Throughout, conductor John Sinclair kept a firm hand on the distinctive musical rests throughout the piece — and he was precisely followed by his musicians.
The sopranos and soloist Mary Wilson neatly put a bit of a wail into their singing, augmenting the lyrics’ lament. Wilson’s bright tone was the highlight of the four featured soloists. When she sang of the glory of paradise near the work’s conclusion, her voice rang over the chorus in glorious brilliance.
Wilson and mezzo- soprano soloist Laura Pudwell warmly complemented each other on their duets. Tenor Robert Breault’s hard work throughout the difficult “Cujus animam“aria was too much on view, though he nailed the crucial high note. Richard Zeller’s baritone solo neatly reflected the orchestral drama in his movement.
The other works were lighter in spirit, but no less affecting.
Bedrich Smetana’s “Vltava (The Moldau)” flowed as swiftly as the river the music represents. The Czech composer’s homage to his nation’s longest river burbled and bubbled, with the harp and piccolo adding colorful accents.
Felix Mendelssohn’s “The Hebrides (Fingal’s Cave)” was played with beauty and clarity.
The evening began with Overture to Shakespeare’s “As You Like It,” by John Knowles-Paine. The American composer wanted to capture the whimsy and joy of Shakespeare’s comedy in music, and the Bach Festival orchestra fulfilled his desire with a light and playful performance.