By Robin McKee Williams
I Cantori di Carmel, under the direction of Dr. Sal Ferrantelli, presented an evening concert of choral music with orchestra and soloists at the Carmel Mission Basilica on Sunday, December 6th. The program began with a 16th century French Carol, which established the joy of the holiday season, and ended with Mozart’s delightful Missa Brevis in F Major. The marvelous ambiance and acoustics of the Carmel Mission enhanced the program, which ran the gamut from 16th century composer Heinrich Schutz to one of Ferrantelli’s recent compositions, and the program moved easily from one century to the next. The fine singers of I Cantori demonstrated many times during the evening their mastery of phrasing, language, diction and melodic line. The contrasting centuries with their unique developments of harmony, phrasing, and text added variety and interest throughout the program. Ferrantelli’s direction maintained a high level of intensity throughout the program.
For many decades, Ferrantelli has devoted his time to raising the standards of music on the Monterey Peninsula. Sunday evening was no exception. Several of his soloists were from the Monterey Peninsula. Katherine Edison, a choral member of I Cantori, was given a lovely solo in Cantata Pastorale per la Nativita di Nostro Signore Gesu Cristo by Scarlatti. The solo quartet in Missa Brevis in F Major by Mozart was also sung beautifully by guest soloists. Just how elegantly Mozart could write melodies for sopranos was proved by Nancy Williams, also a resident of the Monterey Peninsula, who demonstrated how to bring Mozart to life. Members of Ensemble Monterey played brilliantly, and included in this ensemble were talented high school students Jacob Paoletti, Grace Lee and David Oh from Rose Marie Dunsford’s violin studio in Pacific Grove.
Of particular interest was Ferrantelli’s Kyrie eleison. Although it was harmonically and musically challenging, the chorus easily performed the difficult key changes and abrupt modulations. This ambitious a capella piece remained nicely in tune as new keys were introduced and intricate rhythms emerged. The fine soprano section was able to sustain high notes that were free of vocal tension and had clear resonance throughout the melodic lines. This performance served to prove how well Ferrantelli knows how to showcase the strengths of his musicians.
It is inspiring to hear volunteer choral singers who meticulously prepare choral music spanning several centuries in four different languages, and this concert demonstrated how I Cantori’s singers have worked hard to develop their vocal technique and musicianship. Many hours go into preparing music for one of I Cantori’s concerts and its singers understand the subtleties of Mozart’s phrasing and cadences, the contour of Schutz’s melodic ideas, and the harmonic beauty of twentieth-century choral music. I Cantori di Carmel, with the inspiration of Ferrantelli’s direction, presents these choral concerts to the public, and it is truly a gift to hear them perform.
Robin McKee Williams, MA, CMVT, is an active musical director and mezzo-soprano soloist for the Monterey Peninsula and San Francisco areas. Her training includes the Royal Conservatory of Music, Stanford University, San Jose State University and the McClosky Institute of Boston. She is presently pursuing a DMA degree from Boston University.
End
