BBC CHORUS SINGS BACH'S B Minor Mass under JOHN BUTT 05.02 at 19.30

[edashtav]

John Butt, one of the most innovative and celebrated Bach interpreters today, conducts the BBC Symphony Chorus in its first performance of Bach's Mass in B Minor for 40 Years. At the heart of the BBC Symphony Chorus's 90th-birthday season, the exciting fusion of Butt's own period approach with modern instruments and large-scale choral forces will make for a fascinating combination in one of the most technically challenging yet rewarding pieces of the choral repertoire. Recorded in the Barbican last Saturday, my Spy recommends this performance.

[doversoul1]

John Butt, one of the most innovative and celebrated Bach interpreters today, conducts the BBC Symphony Chorus in its first performance of Bach's Mass in B Minor for 40 Years. At the heart of the BBC Symphony Chorus's 90th-birthday season, the exciting fusion of Butt's own period approach with modern instruments and large-scale choral forces will make for a fascinating combination in one of the most technically challenging yet rewarding pieces of the choral repertoire. Recirded in the Barbican last Saturday, my Spy recommends this performance.

I never really liked his ‘proper’ HIPP/OVPP Bach. I missed the howl of the mobs in Matthew Passion and some of his/their cantatas sounded rather like (to me) an under attended Sunday service. Until I cam across his Handel’s Samson with a massed backing (?) of Polish Radio Choir. Absolutely wonderful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QthVPnAti5E

On this basis, I am very much looking forward to this performance.

[doversoul1]

8.25pm
Oh dear… It must be my receiver.

[teamsaint]

8.25pm
Oh dear… It must be my receiver.

....and my car radio also , DS........

[Ein Heldenleben]

Sort of enjoying it. Et In Terra Pax is a bit of a Beecher's Brook for tenors isn't it?

[DracoM]

Turned it off after 20 mins.
Dunedin with Mr Butt are an entirely different proposition.

Oh dear.

[edashtav]

I never really liked his ‘proper’ HIPP/OVPP Bach. I missed the howl of the mobs in Matthew Passion and some of his/their cantatas sounded rather like (to me) an under attended Sunday service. Until I cam across his Handel’s Samson with a massed backing (?) of Polish Radio Choir. Absolutely wonderful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QthVPnAti5E

On this basis, I am very much looking forward to this performance.

Thanks for that link, doversoul.

[edashtav]

Turned it off after 20 mins.
Dunedin with Mr Butt are an entirely different proposition.

Oh dear.

I had to have a break after 20 ponderous minutes, too, DracoM. Talk about falling between stools! I returned after a welcome dinner and a bottle of wine for the Agnus: too slow for the countertenor to sustain "beatifully". The end was definitely a "finale" but curiously cheerless. I shall go back and fill in the whole picture later but so far, I'm a churl! Oh dear!

[Nick Armstrong]

8.25pm
Oh dear… It must be my receiver.

Oh dear.

Oh dear!

"Oh dear" were the very words that went through my mind as I happened to catch a bit of this, switching on the radio a bit before 8pm - coupled with the thought that it sounded like a reasonably competent school performance, and why was it on R3

Having switched off, I made a point of looking who was performing, and was ... surprised

[edashtav]

"Oh dear" were the very words that went through my mind as I happened to catch a bit of this, switching on the radio a bit before 8pm - coupled with the thought that it sounded like a reasonably competent school performance, and why was it on R3

Having switched off, I made a point of looking who was performing, and was ... surprised

[oh dear]^4

[edashtav]

Now, so keen was I to hear Butt putting the HIPP into the BBC Chorus that I bought a ticket for the Barbican performance and arranged for my Spy, and Bach fanatic, to attend, too.
A couple of days before the performance, I tripped over a proud tree-root whilst supervising a gang of tree surgeons. My knee went twang and I was confined to Barracks.
Discretion is sometimes the better part of valour.
Had I been fit, Spy tells me that I should have been sat next to John Butt's sister!
Could I have kept my critical opinions to myself and For3?
I doubt it.
God moves in mysterious ways his wonders to perform!

[oddoneout]

I started listening about 10 mins in and it didn't grab my attention as promising anything special. However I stuck with it, not least because the things that were 'wrong' about it were not, for me, bad enough to completely destroy the music. The chorus puzzled me though - I couldn't work out if they were scared or tired, but it seemed to me there was no spark and certainly no hint of risk-taking. In view of edash's Spy's recommendation was it one of those concerts which don't translate well from concert hall to listening experience at home?

[edashtav]

I started listening about 10 mins in and it didn't grab my attention as promising anything special. However I stuck with it, not least because the things that were 'wrong' about it were not, for me, bad enough to completely destroy the music. The chorus puzzled me though - I couldn't work out if they were scared or tired, but it seemed to me there was no spark and certainly no hint of risk-taking. In view of edash's Spy's recommendation was it one of those concerts which don't translate well from concert hall to listening experience at home?

Oh dear an oddoneout.
But, of course, you may well be right that this was a concert that was best heard live.

I found the sound 'dull' and while the instrumentalists were trying some sensitive phrasing, there were gaps between intention and execution: it sounded 'imposed' rather than natural.
Some of the solo numbers with reduced orchestral forces came over better for me. High lying phrases for the choral sopranos sounded uncomfortable and their intonation was imperfect, too.
I was keyed up for a revelation, so 'run of the mill' felt deeply disappointing.

[Ein Heldenleben]

I thought the tenors had a tougher time than the sops. Bit perplexed about the intonation problems - not usually an issue with the BBC chorus. I guess the Mass is up there with the Missa Solemnis in terms of rarity of performance , difficulty and is even more exposed - really no hiding place. I think intonation got better as the work progressed though.

[Nick Armstrong]

The chorus puzzled me though - I couldn't work out if they were scared or tired, but it seemed to me there was no spark and certainly no hint of risk-taking.

I should point out that my reaction (in my post earlier) was based solely on the choral singing, which was all I heard...