Review: Octavo Singers conclude with stirring Requiem

PHOTOGRAPHER: Peter R. Barber

Soprano Margaret Van Norden performs with the Octavo Singers on Sunday.

The Octavo Singers closed its 75th season Sunday afternoon at the First Reformed Church with a stirring performance of Verdi’s Requiem. George Moross, who was celebrating his 40th season as the almost 90-voice chorus’ music director, conducted with inspiration. It was a formidable undertaking.

Despite the large forces he had to organize, Moross was unflappable throughout the many changes of tempo, mood, and technical demands within the work’s 15 sections. He and the chorus were substantially helped by having a first-rate 39-piece orchestra and four soloists, who were in exceptional voice. They were soprano Emily Newton, mezzo-soprano Lucille Beer, tenor Brian Cheney and bass Richard Mazzaferro.

For Gazette music writer Geraldine Freedman’s preview of this show, click here.

It was high drama all the way. The work, which is more than 60 minutes long, is brilliantly operatic, technically virtuosic and marvelous. Written in 1874 to honor the death of Alessandro Manzoni, Verdi’s score is rich with beautiful romantic melodies, chromatic harmonies, driving rhythms and a mixture of chorus tutti sections and substantial work for the quartet and its soloists. He even wrote in a few instrumental solos for added color.

Each of the singers sang with intensity and passion. Newton’s big full voice easily projected over the full ensemble. Cheney’s ringing and edged tenor soared like a clarion. Beer sang with great drama, intensity and often thrilling tones. Mazzaferro rolled out his big dark voice with a fluid ease.

The chorus did very well, but balances favored the orchestra especially at full volume. When it exploded with stormy thunder, there was so much sound that the timpani’s rolls made the pews vibrate. This was thrilling but the chorus was overwhelmed. At softer levels, the balances were better and the Latin words could be heard.

The only odd thing was that after performing most of the piece, an intermission was taken. There was only about 20 minutes more of music left and the break upset the continuity. Who could remember when the second half started with the peaceful “Agnus Dei” that a wildly celebratory “Sanctus” had preceded it?

The program began with the impressive debut of soprano Margaret Van Norden, a senior at Niskayuna High School, who was the 2010 Octavo Singers Scholarship Winner. Accompanied solidly by pianist Anna Juliar, Van Norden lingered with pleasure over Gershwin’s “Summertime” and soared easily in the famous waltz aria, “Je veux vivre,” from Gounod’s “Romeo and Juliet.” Her joy in singing radiated in her voice. Van Norden expects to make a career of it and plans to attend Boston Conservatory.