THE MISSISSIPPI CHORUS AT ST. RICHARD'S CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL, MAY 19, 2001

   Two Requiems made up this concert - one by Mozart, the other by John
Rutter. Celia Henley was organist, and MSO members made up the orchestra.
Soloists in the Mozart were Kimberly Griffing Porter, soprano; Lester
Senter Wilson, alto; Edward Dacus, tenor; and Walter Swan, bass. Because
the Mozart work is relatively familiar, its performance is likely to be
scrutinized more carefully, while paradoxically it may be enjoyed the
more because of its familiarity. With this in mind I found the Lachrymosa
- probably the most familiar part - to be sheer perfection. The Hosanna
provided the polyphony that fills a deep need I feel at any choral
program, and the overall effect was grand. The Rutter Requiem, with
soprano Shawn Balentine, was somewhat lighter in sound, although beginning
in a rather somber mood. The rich acoustic environment at St. Richard's
brings both problems and opportunities. Achieving a good balance between
choir and instruments can be difficult; here the lower parts of the bass
line in the quartet Tuba Mirum were occasionally overshadowed by the brass,
but on the other hand the reverberation adds an emotional quality to
choral music that cannot be obtained in any other way. In general
director Martin Bittick mastered the balance problem and used the
acoustics to great advantage. This was a memorable performance by any
standard, and I am greateful to all who played a part in it.

                                                  - Glenn A. Gentry




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