A passionate passion play

Riek van Rensburg
Pretoria News 20 April 2010

CONCERT: St Matthew Passion by GP Telemann
CHOIR: Pretoria Bach Choir
VENUE: Johanneskirche, The Willows DATE: Sunday, April 18
FROM the very opening of the first chorus, it was clear that this would be an impassioned St Matthew Passion. The drama was forcefully communicated in the singing and the emotional content was brought to life with unfailing vividness.

There was an astounding Evangelist in Chris Mostert who delivered the daunting narration with great sympathy, providing a superbly articulated rendering of the Gospel text.

As Jesus, baritone Hendre van Zyl sang with a perfect balance of human vulnerability and divine dignity. His is a baritone that is both rich and powerful.

Bass Jaco Klopper sang diverse material with a gloriously full tone and expansive phrasing.

Mezzo Linette van der Merwe performed with soothing warmth and a thorough comprehension of Telemann’s vocal line. She employed some wonderfully subtle accents with the text. Soprano Talita Strydom beguiled the ear with singing of a ravishing nature.

The vastly improved Pretoria Bach Choir maintained a clarity and discipline of sound that greatly added to the ultimate enjoyment of the performance.

The lucidity of line in their singing of the chorales was especially impressive. The crisp articulation and buoyancy in the turbae choruses were quite exhilarating.

The ad hoc orchestra performed with commendable facility and finesse. Obligato contributions were clean and transparent.

Conductor Gerben Grooten clearly had a total grasp of the detail of the score. His tempi were well-judged, and his handling of the choir was strong.

He revealed a feeling for the inner lines of melody that time and again lent grace to the singer’s line. The total involvement and musical feeling inherent in this performance of Telemann’s St Matthew Passion gave the work all the spiritual glow and powerful energy it deserved.