MUSIC REVIEW:
AUDIENCE SWEPT UP WITH HEAVENLY RENDITION OF ELIJAH
By Peter Jacobi
BLOOMINGTON HERALD-TIMES
MARCH 5, 2007
When the last chords of “Elijah,” Mendelssohn’s imposing oratorio, had sounded on Saturday evening at the Evangelical Community Church, a cheers-punctuated standing ovation erupted from the audience that filled the spacious venue.
It was a natural reaction to a performance by the Bloomington Chamber Singers that might have surprised even its most devoted fans. This work of epic proportions — the music, not counting intermission, spans more than two hours — is a challenge for any choir, even the most full-time and professional. These local singers are neither. They’re gifted enough to have won places in the ensemble, but their commitment comes amid other responsibilities. They’re members of a community institution, and as such, they undertake a demanding regimen of rehearsals while also handling job-and-duty schedules.
But they have an inspiring leader in Gerald Sousa, who consistently pushes his chorus and determined last year that “Elijah” was the right choice, a dramatic interpretation of Old Testament texts focused on the prophet who brings his people back to the God he loves and, as reward, is taken into heaven by a whirlwind. The music is expansive in nature, climax-laden, effusively lyrical and demanding.
Preparation began in September. By Saturday night, the singers had mastered the score, not only so that beauteous and full-bodied sounds resonated about the church, but so, also, that just as full-bodied emotions stirring in the music could be keenly felt.
In no small measure, the success of the event depended also on the soloists. These included group members portraying angels, who seemed to rejoice in their lambent harmonies, and a quartet of distinguished guests assigned to portray various Biblical characters, which they did with expected finesse.
Without doubt, Timothy Noble was the evening’s star attraction as Elijah. His baritone is a force of nature, stunningly powerful as well as resonant and radiant, a pleasure to the ears. But the bonus to a Noble performance is his ability to modulate that instrument. In moments signifying Elijah’s fury over sin and corruption, the voice raved at astounding decibel levels. In pleas for the revival of a widow’s dead son, it softened to whispers and throbs of weeping. At all times, this veteran Elijah remained totally at one with the role.
Two colleagues from IU’s music faculty, tenor Alan Bennett and mezzo Mary Ann Hart (also well attuned to their assignments and exhibiting excellence of voice), contributed significantly as they assumed other roles, these ranging from Elijah’s devoted servant Obadiah to the evil Queen Jezebel. An alumna of the Jacobs School, soprano Dawn Spaetti, returned to add her well-formed voice to the mix. As did, briefly, a charming boy soprano, Will Grindle, playing the youth asked by Elijah to look out toward the sea to determine whether the prophet’s prayers for help have been heard by God.
Conductor Sousa kept all, including an orchestra of town and gown participants, impressively coordinated and musically exalted. Good show!
