Beneath the exquisite stone arches and stained glass windows of the Christ Church Cathedral more than 130 performers gathered for the Victoria Choral Society’s 90th anniversary production, a rendition of three of Mozart’s compositions, Requiem, Laudate Dominum, and Ave Verum Corpus.
Requiem was an unfinished piece by Mozart at the time of his death and is considered to be among his finest. As the audience quieted, the orchestra of around 30 musicians launched into the opening themes of the work, soon supported by the impressively large chorus, who sang in traditional Latin.
It was fascinating to watch the individual sections of the choir respond as finely tuned instruments to the conducting of Victoria Choral Society music director Brian Wismath, and that is really what is most beautiful about this choral work. With a slight gesture of his hand, Wismath beckoned forth waves of melody and harmony as the sopranos, altos, and tenors contrasted beautifully with the baritones and basses.
In addition to the larger chorus, there were also four soloists—a soprano, mezzo, tenor, and bass—whose powerful voices commanded as much awe as the entire choir.
In particular, soprano Jennifer Turner was the highlight performance. Though slight in stature, Turner was able to generate rich, textured sound with impressive control. One section in particular had her holding a note, beginning quietly and increasing in magnitude, until her lone voice pierced the back corners of the cathedral, all while Turner remained poised and motionless, as if creating such an energetic force was as easy for her as breathing.
The exquisite acoustics of the cathedral created a resonant reverb that enhanced and amplified the sound. Within the expansive space, the individual elements of the music were dancers, pirouetting and undulating, intermingling to create a rich tapestry of harmony. With my eyes closed, the music became a distinct entity, extracted from reality to exist only within that sublime soundscape. When I opened my eyes, however, I could observe how each singer and musician performed with personality and passion. Music is a powerful force, and to pull these mellifluous melodies from nothingness by subtly manipulating the vibrations of the air itself imbues the musician with an energy and power that radiates from them, and resonates among the audience.
This is the gripping power of music, and it’s why classical and choral compositions have remained strong for centuries, and will continue to be, long after you or I are gone.
If you didn’t see this performance, you missed a splendiferous musical experience crafted by the Victoria Choral Society, and I hope you’ll join me for the next show, which I wouldn’t miss for the world.