The first performance of Charles Jennens and Friedrich Handel’s Messiah was apparently so highly anticipated that women were asked not to wear skirt hoops when attending so that as many as possible could fit into the auditorium. 280 years later, the piece can still fill a concert hall, and it is easy to hear why. WNO Orchestra’s performance of Messiah at St. David’s Hall recently did not disappoint.
Somewhere between an operetta and a choral piece, Messiah follows Jesus’ presence on Earth, from the announcement of his birth to the second coming. Originally performed at Lent (and has become a Christmas tradition relatively recently), each section of the composition is based on a quote from the King James Bible, selected and organised by librettist Charles Jennens.
Much has been discovered about Jennens’ involvement in the creation of the piece, with some suggesting it initially was his brainchild, though obviously, Handel’s score is what is most widely loved. Jennens was mentioned briefly in the programme, but it would have been nice to see more attention given to this key figure in the inception of the work. The Foundling Museum hosted a fascinating talk on his life and involvement with Handel, which is free to watch online, and highly recommended.
WNO’s concert performance was skillful and engaging throughout. The orchestra, conducted by James Southall, was a standout element. Their timbre warm and inviting, and the sound felt intimate and almost chamber-like – surprising, given the orchestra’s size. Their performance had a quiet power that engaged the audience without stealing the limelight from the performers – something very difficult to achieve in a space like St David’s Hall, which is designed to maximise the quality of instrumental sound.
While the choral sections of the piece are perhaps the most widely known, a key part of the composition and structure is the incorporation of solo airs and recitatives. The four soloists – Thando Mjandana, James Platt, Jess Dandy, and Harriet Eyley – did not disappoint. Soprano Eyley glistened throughout, her voice clear and precise and her presence both humble and all-encompassing whenever she performed. The mezzo-soprano sections of Messiah are some of the most difficult parts of the score and Dandy handled them with power and finesse.
Platt’s deep bass voice is capable of filling any space, his presence is immense. His voice was a joy to listen to: rich, warm, and powerful. Tenor Mjandana was by far the most emotive performer onstage, offering not only glorious singing but a powerful and evocative performance. He accessed the feeling of the piece more than any other individual there, which is difficult to offer when there are no traditional dialogic lyrics.
The chorus, of course, wwere also wonderful to hear, but I did find that the lower sections were drowned out, particularly the altos by the sopranos. One difficulty of a room like St David’s Hall is that both the chorus and the soloists face forward when the space is designed for the sound to bounce before it goes into the audience. While the orchestra were in a semi-circle and didn’t have to contend with this, the lack of acoustic bounce on the singers’ voices did mean meant some of the subtleties and some more taxing solo runs were lost behind the instruments and louder singers. This did not ruin the experience overall, but it is an interesting thing to note, particularly if the space is going to be used for fewer orchestral and more commercial concerts in the future.
The final delight of the evening was conductor Southall, who is by far the most joyous conductor I have ever seen. His energy while conducting is infectious and his love of music is palpable. It is a pleasure to watch him dance and jump across his platform, encouraging his performers with his excitable and charismatic presence. If the music alone had not put you in a festive mood, his energy would have.
The cherry on the cake for a complex and fascinating year for WNO Orchestra, this was a glorious note to end the year on. Messiah is as popular now as it ever has been, and it is easy to see why.
WNO Orchestra: Handel’s Messiah, St David’s Hall, Cardiff, Fri 9 Dec
words HARI BERROW
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