“Handel’s Messiah” With the Brampton Festival Singers and the Brampton Festival Youth Choir.  Conducted by Robert Hennig with soloists: Shelagh Tyreman, Melyss Kerr, Margaret Terry, Peter Collins and Michael Sproule

This concert was, in a word, fantastic!  Every element was executed with care, attention and accuracy.  I was tremendously impressed by the sustained energy level and intensity that did not drop; this really contributed to an electric evening.  As my points below show, there was nothing really constructive I can provide for you with reference to your performance of this music.  Your phrasing, intonation, use and contrast of dynamics, articulation, diction, presentation and fun were just phenomenal.  


Beyond the terrific work and direction of the choir, the individuals responsible for selecting your guest singers and orchestra also did a wonderful job, brining remarkable talent to join you on the stage.  

Thank you so very much for providing me and all in attendance with such a memorable evening.  I truly hope that you are able to present this again next year, it would be a wonderful gift.


Points

Overture

-very nice sound from the orchestra
-great pacing and atmosphere
-wonderful selection of musicians

Tenor Recitative and Air (Comfort…, Ev’ry vally…)

-wow, this was terrific—just wonderful.  Excellent singer to bring in.

Chorus (And the Glory of the Lord)

-terrific entrance
-some initial intonation problems in the tenor section
-sopranos sound fantastic
-excellent work on the phrasing, each line is being sung through
-nice sound balance and great energy
-wonderful job!

Alto Recitative (Behold a virgin shall conceive)

-wonderful singing
-choir should have remained standing

Alto Air and Chorus (O thou that tallest good tidings of Zion)

-very good entrance by the choir
-this was terrific
-great power and energy
-you just sound great

Chorus (And he shall purify)

-great job sopranos
-excellent work with all the melismas, well articulated—this was very difficult but you handled it remarkably well
-wonderful balance
-at time the ending of words are not being articulated clearly

Bass Air and Recitative (for Behold…., the people that walked)

-wonderful pacing and sound
-beautifully sung

BRAMPTON FESTIVAL YOUTH CHOIR

Alleluias of Hope—Robert Hennig

-nice costumes, great way to include the kids
-the music fit very nicely, however I think that the harpsichord would have given a more uniform sound as opposed to the organ
-the kids sounded great, very well coordinated and in tune
-I thought that the coloured bells was terrifically fun and added a wonderful touch.

BRAMPTON FESTIVAL SINGERS

Chorus (For unto us a child is born)

-great start nice tone and energy
-good work on melismas, great phrasing
-terrific full sound
-great diction and intonation

Pastoral Symphony Soprano and Recitatives

-beautiful

Sing-along Chorus (Glory to God)

­-nice entrance
-great balance and intonation
-sopranos continue to sound great
-nice power and phrasing
-terrific ending

Soprano Air (Rejoice Greatly)

-terrific

Chorus (Hallelujah)

-choir should stand and get ready during the applause for the soloist, the break here was too long
-terrific sound, wonderful balance
-great energy
-terrific phrasing and articulation
-nice dynamic control
-tremendous work, congratulations

Alto Air (He was despised)

-very nicely done
-energy shift was well executed and very effective

Chorus (Surely)

-terrific bottom end sound for so few people
-nice balance
-fantastic intensity and power
-good work with dynamic swells and contrasts
-great intonation
-wonderful sound

Chorus (And with his stripes)

-great sound
-again, very impressive sound from bass and tenor
-great overall balance
-watch the energy level, it dropped a bit mid way through

Chorus (All we like sheep)

-nice coordination
-great balance
-a few minor intonation problems here
-good job with diction
-fantastic sound before the ending
-great finish

Tenor Recitative (All they that see him)

-very nice

Sing –along Chorus (He trusted in god)

-nice entrance
-a few intonation problems in the tenors
-great balance
-wonderful coordination
-nice energy

Tenor recitative and air (x2)

-this was beautiful, you really did a fantastic job brining such wonderful talent to join you on stage


Sing –along Chorus (Hallelujah)

-again, very well done
-fantastic balance between the choir and orchestra
-great coordination at the ending

Soprano Air ( I know that my redeemer liveth)

-very sweet voice, very beautiful

Sing-along Chorus (Since by man came death)

-very haunting
-this sounded terrific
-great balance and power
-terrific work
-very good work with key and energy shift, executed with great skill

Bass Recitative and Air

-very well done
-nice orchestral balance

Chorus (worthy is the Lamb and Amen)

-great power and sound
-terrific balance
-good diction and articulation
-very good coordination with the orchestra
-nice work with the amen


CONGRATULATIONS!