Motets on Solomon's Song of Songs - M. Franck
Jesu meine Freude BWV227 - Bach
Lieder im Freien zu singen - (excs) - Mendelssohn
Duas lendas Amerindias - Villa-Lobos
Celso Antunes made a strong impression when he conducted the National Chamber Choir last year. He did so again on Thursday night at the National Gallery with a demanding programme of music connected to Bach. Bach made a copy of Melchoir Franck's motets on Solomon's Song of Songs, and his motet Jesu meine Freude BWV 227 was the largest and most challenging work on the programme. It was followed by music from two composers who were profoundly influenced by him, Mendelssohn and Villa-Lobos.
A good programme and singing to match made for a rewarding concert. The choir seemed animated by this Brazilian-born, conductor's communicative personality and passion for music. He expects a lot, and even if that was sometimes more than the NCC could deliver with absolute security, his purpose was always clear.
Quiet, fast-moving counterpoint was one area where the choir did not always sustain an even tone and attack, in parts of the Franck and the Bach, for example. But these were blips in performances of gritty intensity, which delved into areas of expression where the NCC does not often tread. I have never heard such convincing German from them, and in the Baroque music everything seemed driven by the texts, as it should. Some might quibble with Antunes's freedom with dynamics, accentuation and tempo. But the results were so vivid, and so full of insight and character, that they eclipsed small-minded concerns. On the basis of this concert and last year's, Antunes and the NCC form a promising but provocative combination.
Roger O. Doyle conducts the next concert in the National Chamber Choir's "Connections" series, at the National Gallery on July 26th, 6.30 p.m. The featured composer will be Brahms.