Disciplined, free, beautiful voices
Presented by: Adelaide Festival
Reviewed: 3rd March, 2023
That the Escolania de Montserrat boys’ choir performed in that musical jewel-box, the Adelaide Town Hall, is felicitous. The tonal quality of this world-class choir was enhanced by both the acoustic and the aesthetic of the venue. That being said, this choir could sing in The Gov and hallow all of Bowden. This is the first time that the Escolania, top of BBC Music Magazine’s list of 10 best choirs in the world, has visited Australia.
Singing a Gregorian chant Germinans germinabit as Introit, the choir filed into the concert hall from behind the audience. Conductor Llorenç Castelló followed them onto the stage. Mercé Sanchis quietly accompanied the singers on organ. I counted 35 solemn, white-surpliced choristers in a traditional semicircle.
Headmaster of the Escolania, Father Efrem de Montellà, gave a brief introduction to the choir and its history. Monserrat, forty kilometres north of Barcelona, has been home to a Benedictine abbey for a thousand years, and since 1307, singers have been trained in service to its basilica, Santa Maria de Montserrat. One of the duties of the boys of the Escolania is to sing twice a day in the basilica.
The rest of the event was just music – and what music it was!
Three-part polyphonic motet Imperayritz (from the 14th century Llibre Vermell) was sung with rhythmic verve, drum, tambourine and clarity. Anselm Viola’s Magnificat featured two solid soloists at the forefront of meticulous 18th century choral singing. Ángel Rodamilans’ elegantly unsettled Moreneta en sou was awash with luscious harmonies reminiscent of John Rutter. It served as a fine showpiece for the highest trebles. Two pieces by Catalan composer (and ex-student of the Escolania) Bernat Vivancos rounded out the sacred first half of the programme. His first, Ave Maria, was a setting he made based on the Schubert work, but in a minor key, and jam-packed with wild melodic ideas. The effect was luscious, edgy and harmonically adventurous. Salve regina, also by Vivancos, was an outstanding choral vehicle, with full-force (but never forced) singing, unsettling organ accompaniment, a cappella sections of beautiful clarity, and an immensely satisfying harmonies.
A charming programme of Catalan folk songs and songs by Catalan composers comprised the second half of the recital. The switch from sacred to secular was signalled by Sanchis (an excellent accompanist) moving from organ to piano. Francesc Civil’s lively choral setting of La gata i el belitre, a Catalan cat-and-dog folk song was joyful. Vivancos’ L’ametller was filled with dynamic surges and contemporary harmonies. Ruera’s La nostra dansa displayed intricate a cappella singing, with particularly accurate and rhythmic singing at a very quiet volume. Vivancos’ demanding setting of Catalan folk song El cant dels ocells left only seven choristers on stage, whilst the remainder lined each side of the concert-hall, singing a cappella. Unexpected, angular harmonies added to its joy. Guinovart’s three fun pieces from his El Bestiolari provided a boisterously amusing finale.
The choir evidences careful sonic balancing by its conductor, Castelló. The boys’ ability to work clearly at pianissimo and at pace is a mark of their excellence. Despite some very full-voiced work, there was never evidence of vocal strain; the quality and ease of voice production speaks to excellent training and careful regard for developing voices. Articulation is clean and clear. You can set your watch by their intonation. Listening to others is the first job of a chorister, and their perceptual skills are uncanny. All this is not achieved easily or quickly. The musicianship and sensitivity to artistic interpretation cannot be simply taught by rote. These young singers (aged between 9 and 14 years) are being developed as artists under Llorenç Castelló’s direction.
Reviewed by Pat H. Wilson
Venue: Adelaide Town Hall
Season: 3rd – 5th March, 2023
Duration: 1 hour, no interval
Tickets: $129:00 (Concession $87:00)
Bookings: https://www.adelaidefestival.com.au/events/escolania-de-montserrat/
