Ex Cathedra at The Oratory, Birmingham

Jun 19 2009 By Maggie Cotton

Two of the musical giants being honoured this year were the focus for this evening’s Summer Vespers.

Nevertheless, it came as a shock to realise that Purcell, be-wigged and distant, was a mere 36 years old at the time of his death in 1695, when Handel was a lad of ten. Accurate historical perspective certainly stirs the thoughts.

The matchless beauty of the Oratory was enhanced by scores of softly glowing candles and an anticipatory gentle buzz from a capacity audience. After copious tuning from the baroque strings, a discreet note introduced the unaccompanied choir with the first of the Purcell anthems.

Here is a composer famed for his skill of fitting language to music with precision and understanding, but yet again this glorious venue is of little help in anything over a healthy mezzo-forte.

Full rich sounds swirl away into the dome, augmented by massive resonances blurred by the three-second echo in this glorious building. This gives the effect of uncomfortable distortions only occasionally clarified by snatches of ageless familiar text.

Stylish instrumentalists enhanced the choral offerings with a wide variety of textures, added to which sensitive recitative underpinning from chamber organ and solo cello were a delight.

As ever, conductor Jeffrey Skidmore inspired his musicians with his undeniable musicality.

Handel’s Dixit Dominu came as a relief in Latin, swelling to noble proportions topped by soaring dramatic sopranos, contrasting with lovely solos from within the choir, in particular a fine counter-tenor. Crisp playing highlighted imaginative tempo contrasts, with Handel’s final rousing fugue a perfect resolution

Forty years on, this matchless team is famed for fascinating and challenging programming performed with exceptional musicianship.

Rating: 4/5