The Spanish National Choir

I went to a concert tonight at the Votivkirche to hear the Spanish National Choir perform. I was hoping to take some pictures of the interior of the building, but unfortunately it was way too dark to get anything to come out, even with the longer exposure time. Therefore, there are no pictures in this post but I though I would post the program for those of you who are keeping track of the concerts I am attending over here. Overall, the performance was very good, but I will pick at a couple things. At times, the choir seemed flat. Not just one section, the entire choir sounded flat against the organ. They also seemed to be singing with perfect equal temperment. Whenever the choir sang fortissimo, there were also a few tenors and sopranos that could not control themselves. One tenor in particular looked and sounded like he was getting goosed during the fortissimo passages! I am also not a fan of large vibratos in choirs, and during the louder passages the vibratos were a bit out of control at times. Combine this with reverberant acoustics, and the effect is multiplied. Overall, the choir was very moving and I wish that the St. Laurence Chorale and Fr. Crary could have been here to hear it. The program was put together very well and all of the selections were liturgically appropriate for the Lenten season.

Bruckner (1824-1896)
-Three Motets for Choir and Organ

• Libera me
• Tota pulchra es
• Christus factus est

Brahms (1833-1897)
-Prelude and Fugue in G Minor for Organ, WoO 10
-Ave Maria for Women's Choir and Organ, Op. 12
-Spiritual Song for Choir and Organ, Op. 30
-O Welt, ich muss dich lassen for organ, Op. 122, Nr. 11

Rheinberger (1839-1901)
-Stabat Mater in G Minor for Choir and Organ, Op. 138

Mompou (1893-1987)
-Cantar del alma for Mixed Choir, Soprano, and Organ