Performance: Bach Musica

St-Matthew-in-the-City

Review: Heath Lees

The Auckland Bach Cantata Society is now called "Bach Musica" and, with a somewhat bewildering single-mindedness, they marked the new name and the present Bach celebratory year with a work by Brahms.

Perhaps it was to show Bach's influence on later composers.

Certainly, there is no denying the St Thomas Cantor's ever-present spirit in Brahms' Requiem, particularly in the cumulative grandeur of its two big fugues.

By forsaking Holy Trinity Cathedral in favour of St Matthews, the choir gained a clear and grateful acoustic, while the audience benefited from easier parking outside and a closer involvement within. One day there will be cushions on all the seats, too.

Musically, the performers were able to create the widest range of dynamic effects, from the opening, reverent hush of "Selig sind" to the ringing shouts of joy in the Creation's Hymn that closes the sixth section, which Brahms had originally (and properly) planned as the work's final "Amen."

With a relatively small choir, the inevitable process of natural selection meant that the fittest survived while weaker voices grew strained.

But Indra Hughes was at the organ, providing discreet support in the way of a secure footing for the singers, and bloom and depth to a reduced but confident orchestra.

Time and again the choir's director, Rita Paczian, showed that large, dramatic effects are not gained through volume alone, but by carefully judged, inexorable tempi, and spot-on intonation that creates a satisfying sense of steadfast purpose and crowning achievement.

Nowhere were such exhilarating moments better displayed than in the second section, where a deep-toned lament for the withering of the body is transfigured into a celebration of the spirit - an effect Paczian magically drew out as if the gospel train to heaven had suddenly appeared and carried us off.

Solo soprano Anne Gerbic had some lovely soft sounds to her voice, but an alarming wobble at times. Alongside, David Griffiths sang the baritone parts to perfection. Even Bach would have agreed this was a fine performance and a good choice.