Reviews: Verdi Requiem

Requiem a fabulous holiday gift

December 10 , 2007

By Diane Peterson
The Press Democrat, page B2

The Verdi is a big, ambitious work for all involved, from the 150-voice choir and sprawling orchestra to the four soloists whose voices provide some of the most exquisite passages in the entire vocal repertoire.

But it's especially hard on the conductor, who must marshal these diverse forces while coaxing coherence from the score's complex texture.

Shaking his fists and appearing to sing along with the choir, Ferrandis pulled off the ambitious work with lyricism and power, from the tender opening of "Requiem and Kyrie" to the explosive brass fanfare of "Dies irae."

Thanks to solid preparation by choral directors Robert Worth and Dan Earl, the choir held up its end of the bargain, delivering a polished performance with just a few ragged edges here and there. The Honor Choir consists of 60 members of the Sonoma County Bach Choir, led by Worth, and 90 members of the Santa Rosa Symphonic Chorus, led by Earl.

During a season overflowing with vocal works, the lineup of soloists was the most satisfying yet. When the singers blended together as a quartet, the ensemble always added up to more than the sum of its parts.

Among the four soloists, mezzo soprano Susan Platts stood out in terms of sheer musicality and rich tone. Her diction was impeccable, and her voice was strong in every section of her range. Her duet with soprano Theresa Santiago, "Recordare," was one of the highlights of the evening, as well as her sumptuous trio with the tenor and bass, "Lux Aeterna."

Bass Dean Elzinga also gave an impressive performance, delivering his solos with dramatic flair. Less satisfactory was tenor Richard Clement, whose voice sounded tight and strained at times.

The orchestra lent impressive support throughout, with flawless intonation in the strings and stellar work from the woodwinds and brass. Ferrandis kept tempos moving at a nice clip while creating dramatic contrasts and good balance.

This performance of Verdi's Requiem is a fabulous holiday gift. If you've never heard it before -- or if you enjoy Italian bel canto opera -- don't let this rare opportunity pass you by.

Verdi composed his mighty Requiem in 1874 in honor of his friend, the great Romantic writer Alessandro Manzoni, who died in 1873. In Italy, the work met with immediate success, and it's easy to see why.

Sure it's bombastic at times -- it's not Bach or Mozart -- but the work's sublime melodies and dramatic contrasts perfectly express the tragic emotions of the text and what it means to be human.

Ferrandis dedicated the Saturday performance to his mentor, Richard Bradshaw, who died of a heart attack this past summer at the age of 63. The British-born conductor and general director of the Canadian Opera Company was the driving force behind Toronto's new opera house.

The Santa Rosa Symphony will repeat the Saturday program at 8 on Monday, December 10 at the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts, 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa. Tickets are $27-$50. Call 546-8742 for more information.

You can reach Staff Writer Diane Peterson at 521-5287 or diane.peterson@pressdemocrat.com