JS Bach, St Matthew
Passion (Jeffrey Skidmore cond. CBSO and Ex Cathedra)
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Spring sunshine |
It did occur to me, as I sat out in the balmy sunshine why
someone of no religion kept giving up perfectly good spring afternoons to hear
religious music. For music like this, it is entirely understandable.
This passion, in German, on Good Friday, was very good. The first time it had been done in German in Brum on Good Friday, apparently. The
CBSO did a very good job of effecting a period orchestra; no fewer than two
organs were employed. All the voices were very strong. Grant Doyle stepped in
at the last minute in place of James Rutherford. His CV promises good credentials, but he was
the weak-point if truth be told. I can therefore only imagine that the problem
was lack of time to rehearse etc. This was a fantastic afternoon all the same,
but something stopped this having the effect it can have. It was very good, but
somehow not excellent.
Quite how all this qualified as Birmingham International
Concert Season: two Birmingham Institutions and a local conductor with his son
singing is perhaps an Easter mystery for us all.
Ex
Cathedra Choir
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Jeffrey Skidmore conductor
Andrew Tortise: Evangelist
Grant Doyle: Jesus
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Jeffrey Skidmore conductor
Andrew Tortise: Evangelist
Grant Doyle: Jesus
Sopranos: Katie Trethewey, Amy Wood
Altos: Martha McLorinan, Harriet
Hougham Slade
Tenor II: Bradley Smith
Greg Skidmore: Judas and Bass II
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