A night with Johnny and Wolfy.

Okay, major confession time.  I am almost 30 years old and……… I have never listened to the Mozart Requiem.  Yeah, I know, it’s sinful.  That is until this last week.  I finally got to hear a wonderful concert of the Mozart Requiem as well as a few Bach motets and a violin concerto by the Bach Society of Saint Louis.  And given the performance was held at the St. Francis Xavier College Church - a beautiful hall with amazing acoustics - the evening was quite a gem.

Under the direction of A. Dennis Sparger, the Bach Society began the concert with 3 motets accompanied by the Bach Society Orchestra.  The choir sang Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben (heart and mouth and deed and living), Komm Jesu, Komm (come Jesus, come) and the always loved O Jesu Christ, mein’s Lebens Licht, known in the English speaking world as Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.  It was a rare treat to hear these popular motets performed with an orchestra.  The choir of forty plus singer had a remarkable range, singing the pianissimos to the fortissimos with precision and balance. 

The next section of the program was the Bach Violin Concerto in E major performed by concertmaster Lenora-Marya Anop.  Anop displayed great virtuosity in her playing, capturing the energy and excitement of the piece.  Her performance was enjoyable to listen to as well as watch.

The concert finalized with the Mozart Requiem.  Rather than bring in outside musicians, the Bach Society took full advantage of their talent at hand having their young artists perform the solos of the Requiem.  When one thinks of “angelic” singing, they may imagine a small and light sound, however soprano Stephanie Ball sang with an angelic sound that was graceful and powerful.  Mezzo Soprano Erin Haupt added a warm richness to the musical textures.  Tenor Joshua Stanton sang with a full voice that filled the hall but blended with the ensemble beautifully. From the start of the Tuba mirum, baritone Thomas Sitzler sang with brilliance and a solid core through the entire work.  Mo. Sparger and the choir captured the drama and sacredness of the piece giving each individual section of the Requiem its own charactaristics from the rest while able to bring it all together as a full cohesive work.

The next performance by the Bach Society of Saint Louis will be the Christmas Candlelight Concert at Powell Symphony Hall joined by Soprano Mary Wilson, and the St. Louis Archdiocesan Children's Chorus under Dr. Horst Buchholz December 20^th 7:30pm.  Tickets are available at http://www.bachsociety.org/purchase/concert_tickets/christmas_tickets