Even though the church had been taken over by scaffolding, this neither dimmed the acoustics nor in any way diminished our enjoyment of the music.
Introduced by the parish priest, it was wonderful to hear how the Sacred Arts Foundation is ever increasingly coming to be seen as a collaboration between the diverse churches of Edinburgh, uniting around striving to bring a bit of the sacred into the Festival celebrations.
As we moved to the music, it was good to be reminded that Fauré composed the Cantique aged only 19 – as part of a graduation assessment. This maybe set the scene for his assured career to come.
Having taken a sabbatical from his post as DofM at the New York Philharmonic, Bernstein – many years later – was himself able to focus on composition more than conducting. The Chichester Psalms are the result of a commission from the Dean of the said Cathedral: the project was first inspired by Psalm 2, but then drew in several others as well. The gentle but lyrical presentation of Psalm 23 was particularly of note in this performance.
In this first half, it was remarkable how brilliant was the balance between vocalists and instrumentalists. The Howe Street Singers & Ensemble really go from strength to strength with each successive performance. Les Shankland is one of those few musical directors who conducts as well with his face as with his hands – such is the rapport he has with his musicians.
Fauré’s Requiem, composed in 1888, might have been anticipated to be of a heavy character – his father having died the year before, and his mother then being very ill. Yet the resulting work is known for being full of hope, consolation and resurrection radiance. The version we heard tonight was a reworking by David Hill, based on instrumental parts discovered in Paris in 2009.
The expressiveness was the most impressive element in this concert – the soloists were exceptional, but above all was how the whole held so well together. Here was an organic body of voices, naturally gelling and weaving around each other, and leading the audience to greater and further depths. We had a glimpse and a window behind the curtain – into the divine both beyond, but also present in our midst.
The recital finished at 9.00pm.
Music for Voices and Instrumental Ensemble, Wednesday 14th August, Church of the Sacred Heart