Scholars Baroque Aotearoa with Opus Orchestra
All Saints Church Matamata, Sunday 15 th June. RSCM Music Sunday
Scholars Baroque is a dedicated ensemble of passionate musicians committed to sharing the beauty of Baroque msuic, which they did on the previous evening in St Peter’s Church Tauranga, and in All Saints Church Matamata the following afternoon.
This choir of 24 choristers presented a concert to a near capacity audience with a very high standard of presentation and musicianship, equal to any presented in concert halls worldwide. From the opening chorus of Vivaldi’s Gloria to the final chorus of Bach’s Mass in A Major the music was a joy, privilege and a pleasure to hear.
The four soloists, Soprano Elizabeth Mandeno; Mezzo- Soprano Charlotte McDonald; Tenor Iain Tetley, and Bass-baritone Blake Scalen, all very experienced soloists, presented solos, duets and quartets with clear diction of the Latin text, a rich tone and precise pitch, and excellent breath control in the running passages, particularly in the Mass.
Opus Orchestra is a professional orchestra based in Hamilton and provided the accompaniment to the two works with excellent balance and tone. Some of the movements were accompanied by just two or three instruments, which showed the beauty of the instruments and a high standard of musicianship.
The concert was under the direction of Chalium Poppy, who gave firm and clear direction to the choir and orchestra. In the choruses of the Mass, he used his hands to indicate the entries to the sections of the choir in the more complex music of Bach.
The whole audience gave a standing ovation at the end of the concert to show their appreciation to the musicians and having experienced a wonderful concert. Several people requested to me that such concerts be held in All Saints Church Matamata on a more regular basis, which I conveyed to Chalium Poppy.
David Brookes ARSCM.
Chair RSCM Waikato.
Organist and Choirmaster, All Saints Church Matamata
