Judging by the near-capacity audience for Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra's performance on Thursday of Bach's B minor Mass, our city's choral tradition is still thriving.
The most demanding of the orchestra's Choral Masterpieces series to date, this concert benefited from a smaller band of players, some expert soloists and the prime asset of Stephen Layton. The English conductor is justly celebrated in this area and one could see why from the first few bars of the opening Kyrie eleison.
The finely-gauged balance of forces here was a harbinger of much exquisiteness to come. The voices of the University of Auckland Chamber Choir revealed the advantages of youthful vitality, not to mention the meticulous training of Karen Grylls.
In the Largo that followed, the young singers effortlessly took on the immaculate articulation given out by the instrumental players.
There was jubilation in the Gloria and the Et resurrexit, all aglow with the brilliant gleam of the APO trumpets led by Brent Grapes, while the Hosanna, with further lacings of oboe d'amore, positively danced with joy. Never have I been so pleased to have this section reprised after the Benedictus.
