Reviews

Monteverdi: Vespers (1610)
St Mary’s Church, Amersham
20th May 2010

At St. Mary's Church, Amersham on Saturday 20th May the Amersham and Chesham Bois Choral Society performed Claudio Monteverdi's Vespers of 1610. This work is one of the pinnacles of Western Music and Art, and Ian Hooker and the Choral Society are to be thanked for this performance and congratulated on what was achieved.

The Saint Cecilia Orchestra, which has accompanied the choral society on every occasion I can remember, was replaced by The Baroque Soloists, an ensemble similar to those used four hundred years ago. Cornetts, sackbutts, violins, viola with a continuo section – violone, keyboard, archlute and harp gave a sound that is so different to modern and classical accompaniments, particularly the Archlute whose bass notes have a unique quality.

There were six soloists – two sopranos, Anna Denis and Augusta Herbert; two tenors, Simon Wall and Nathan Vale; a baritone Richard Latham and a bass-baritone James Arthur and the choral forces were divided into two choirs.

Vespers is one of the main services of the Catholic Church and Monteverdi composed his Vespers for a particularly important occasion at Mantua, presided over by the Bishop at the basilica of San Andrea. Probably the greatest achievement of the composer it is a work of some complexity with the usual six sections increased to thirteen, all different in the use of double or combined choir, soloists and instrumentation.

Some of the movements have echo effects that were popular at the time and add breadth to the sound and drama to the occasion and these were effective when used along the length of the nave but unfortunately the staging of “Sancta Maria” with two sopranos in the opposite aisles the acoustic of the church, which normally favours the female voice, made the soprano solos almost inaudible.

This was a small blemish on a remarkable achievement because not only were the rhythmic and stylistic difficulties overcome but there was a sense of excitement in the performance. Ian Hooker had selected his soloists well and individually and in combination they gave impressive performances but especial mention must be made of the Amersham and Chesham Bois Choral Society for the way they mastered the complexities of this work. Ian Hooker has conducted them in many outstanding performances but this must be one of the best.

Bernard Pritchard
 

 

 

Amersham and Chesham Bois Choral Society