'An electrifying performance' - 24.05.05

[Review : Bath Abbey] Peter Lloyd Williams: May 2005, Bath Chronicle

Abbey acoustic does its bit for opening of the festival. The English Concert and Tenebrae

What a splendid start to this year’s festival: great music and inspired performance. The opening Trumpet Sonata by Torelli, a merry little number, was played with great artistry by Mark Bennett, every note crystal clear, beautifully accompanied by these superb string and continuo players, directed from the violin by Andrew Manze.

Then Handel’s Dixit Dominus, written in his early twenties, while he was absorbing the drama and intensity of the Italian School. This was an electrifying performance by these young Tenebrae singers under Nigel Short. They generated immense energy and pace, every dynamic nuance carefully observed, with a freshness and intensity which revealed how dramatic a piece this is. And the singing had heart and commitment which was matched by the orchestra in a totally exhilarating performance.

The second half opened with Vivaldi’s Violin Concerto in E, again directed by Manze from the solo violin. It is full of lyrical grace and elegance, delicately phrased and shaded, played with immaculate style and warmth.

Finally the Vivaldi Gloria, taken with tremendous urgency. It had real bite and attack, presto furioso, every movement contrasted and the string and continuo playing, with trumpet and oboe obbligato was exactly measured and wholly supportive. This was a compelling performance and the soloists from the choir, Natalie Clifton-Griffith and Grace Davidson, sopranos, and Timothy Travers-Brown and Ruth Massey, altos, were very impressive.