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Delightful holiday concert available on CD
"Cantate Hodie."
Mark Kanny can be reached via e-mail or at 412-320-7877.
The recording captures the remarkable improvements in tone, diction and style that Allred has achieved as music director of the Bach Choir. In addition, the tonal refinement and nuances of volume of the Pittsburgh Symphony Brass strengthen the emotional impact of the performances.
The program’s appeal derived in large part from the presence of five world premieres, which permitted a wide range of music to fit naturally. The most important new work was "We Sing Thy Birth" by Stephen Paulus; of the five, it was the richest and most sophisticated in its musical language.
Joseph Wilcox Jenkin’s sophistication is more charming in his "Cantate Hodie," while two carols by Mack Wilberg were also both imaginative and rewarding. The toughest of the new pieces was "Wither’s Carol" by Kieren MacMillan, which impresses without surface charm.
And just for fun, the concert closes with Craig Courtney’s "Musicological Journey Through ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’,” a witty kaleidoscope of musical styles across 1500 years of European history. "Jingle Bells" is the encore.
The recording was made in East Liberty Presbyterian Church, and presents an inconsistent aural picture. When the chorus or brass players are miked closely, the beauty of the performance is appealing. But when the microphone mixing pulls back for a fuller perspective, the acoustical problems of the performance space intrude.
The recording
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