The Camerata Singers, under the solid conducting and leadership of John Koza, presented yet another fine concert to start off the Christmas season. With a running theme centered on “A Spotless Rose,†the grace of the Virgin Mary was compared and contrasted by offering musical settings on that theme and, often, several settings of the same text. It was interesting and satisfying to hear how different composers from different eras and from many different countries treated the same message. The program should have included an atlas as we heard music from England (Joubert, Holst, Howells and Britten), Germany (Praetorius, Berger), Sweden (Jalkeus), Norway (Kverno), Russia (Stravinsky), Estonia (Part), Spain (Guerrero, de Victoria), Hungary (Kodaly) and Iceland (Sigurbjornsson) all with a little Dutch (Bremer) throw in. There was no “Jingle Bells†here!
It would be difficult to say something about all twenty-two pieces. They were, succinctly put, well presented and well sculpted by this dedicated ensemble. Two settings of “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming†proved to set the standard for the evening. First, we heard the traditional setting by Michael Praetorius (in German) followed by a beautifully sung, tender and sweet rendering written by Matthew Culloton. The third setting, entitled “A Spotless Rose,†was by Herbert Howells and included a touching and well performed solo by bass Michael Russell.
The ensemble not only sang well and delivered real musical moments throughout the evening, but they handled very difficult music with seeming ease. The liveliest pieces were the two Spanish selections by Francisco Guerrero (Virgen santa and Lauda mater ecclesia) which included difficult rhythmic patterns at a fast pace. Another exciting piece was the short and rapid-fire Bogoroditse Devo by Russian Arvo Part.
Koza is never one to shy away from challenging his singers with music that is difficult and rewarding, both for performers and for the audience. In “Glory Be to God on High,†by Jean Berger the challenge was met.
It might have been better to start the evening with the two O magnum mysterium settings by de Victoria and David Childs, since these pieces not only allowed the singers to really sing out, but also seemed to settle the ensemble and allow the audience to hear their solid, full sound. The other three pieces (“Prepare the Way†and two settings of “There is no roseâ€) were sweet to hear and well performed, although they were slow and restrained.
At any rate, kudos to Koza and the Camerata Singers for the “rose†they are!
The concerts will be repeated on Saturday, December 12, at 8 pm, and on Sunday, December 13, at 3 pm at the First United Methodist Church in Pacific Grove.
SOAPBOX: Audience members of the world: in this day of watching and listening to whatever you want in the privacy of your home, please remember that a concert is a concert (and this one was in a church)! Some decorum should be reintroduced for you “young-unsâ€. Please refrain from yelling out the conductor’s name with a giant “whoop, whoop†at the end. The audience members are there to hear music/art and the performers are there to make music/art. You can “whoop†all you want at home.
Reg Huston has been a concert soloist and has performed leading roles in opera and musical theater throughout the greater Monterey Peninsula for over thirty years.
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