Bach's B Minor Mass: R3 in Concert Monday 26 February

[doversoul1]

Period instrument orchestra the English Concert joins forces with early music singers the Erebus Ensemble, under the direction of Harry Bicket, to perform Bach's great Mass in B Minor in the unique surroundings of Bath Abbey as part of Bath Bachfest. Presented by Nicola Heywood Thomas.

Lucy Crowe - soprano
Anna Harvey - mezzo
Nick Pritchard - tenor
Ashley Riches - bass-baritone
The English Concert
The Erebus Ensemble
Harry Bicket – director/organ/harpsichord.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09sqs2k

[oddoneout]

It had better be good after having endured those endless infuriating trailers......
I mean, there's no way anyone would have known about it otherwise is there, as we R3 listeners are in our dotage with non-existent attention and memory spans. We need those constant reminders and two bar snippets lest we overlook this performance of BACH'S B MINOR MASS AT 7-30 ON MONDAY EVENING

Sorry

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I mean, there's no way anyone would have known about it otherwise is there, as we R3 listeners are in our dotage with non-existent attention and memory spans. We need those constant reminders and two bar snippets lest we overlook this performance of BACH'S B MINOR MASS AT 7-30 ON MONDAY EVENING

I didn't hear any music. The insipid announcer was talking over it.

[Padraig]

Thanks doversoul. I'm just tuning in. It starts in 10 mts.

[Joseph K]

Just tuned in

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Is it me, or is the choir overwhelming the orchestra? The sound from Bath Abbey is inevitably rather swimmy on the choruses, but the soloists and orchestra generally interact with great sensitivity.

[oddoneout]

Is it me, or is the choir overwhelming the orchestra? The sound from Bath Abbey is inevitably rather swimmy on the choruses, but the soloists and orchestra generally interact with great sensitivity.

It sounded to me(perception, I have no knowledge of such things) as if there was a fair amount of manipulation going on with the balance - sometimes very up close instruments, other times as you say choir to the front. It was probably one of those occasions where the 'being there' experience was much better than the listening at home one.The audience certainly seemed appreciative, but for me it wasn't one I would want to hear again although there were some highlights, such as the 2 alto solos.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

It sounded to me(perception, I have no knowledge of such things) as if there was a fair amount of manipulation going on with the balance - sometimes very up close instruments, other times as you say choir to the front. It was probably one of those occasions where the 'being there' experience was much better than the listening at home one.The audience certainly seemed appreciative, but for me it wasn't one I would want to hear again although there were some highlights, such as the 2 alto solos.

Yes, I think you're right. This kind of "curating" is annoying, and suggests a lack of preparation.

[oddoneout]

Yes, I think you're right. This kind of "curating" is annoying, and suggests a lack of preparation.

Or perhaps too much preparation? Similarities with the arty-farty camera work which is inflicted on televised concerts(when such things happen) - nausea-inducing swoops, and forensic study of a hapless musician's nostril. The aural equivalent is not so physically unpleasant but I still find it unsettling and it does not add anything positive to my listening experience. To what extent my unsatisfactory equipment causes or exacerbates this I don't know.

[Padraig]

The Bminor Mass is a must listen for me. Good, bad or indifferent I would never switch off.
The Kyrie and Agnus Dei were my high spots. I did enjoy the alto solos in particular, oddoneout.
However, I agree that the balance made the overall experience an indifferent one. Strangely, E A, I thought the continuo, and the timpani, at times overwhelmed the singers.

[oddoneout]

The Bminor Mass is a must listen for me. Good, bad or indifferent I would never switch off.
The Kyrie and Agnus Dei were my high spots. I did enjoy the alto solos in particular, oddoneout.
However, I agree that the balance made the overall experience an indifferent one. Strangely, E A, I thought the continuo, and the timpani, at times overwhelmed the singers.

Agree about the 'must listen' but some are more pleasurable or satisfying than others.
The timpanist definitely had wooden knobs on for that concert; fun perhaps for the performer and those at the venue but not so good for at home listening. There was also rather a lot of heavy breathing and key clatter elsewhere at times which I feel could have done with being less obvious. I know period instruments have their quirks(pass swiftly over that horn in the Quoniam bass solo) but I'm not sure that making them and the hard work so evident does the cause of HIPP and period instruments any favours.