Music
Dunedin Consort
Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh
Miranda Heggie
Four stars
In what’s now one of Edinburgh’s Christmas traditions, the Dunedin Consort, under the direction of John Butt, returned to the Queen’s Hall for their annual performance of Handel’s Messiah. Fresh from performances in Spain with the Real Orquesta Sinfónica de Sevilla, the group of 12 singers were joined on stage by an accomplished ensemble of players from closer to home for the first of two Scottish performances, expertly led by violinist Matthew Truscott.
The synchronicity of the ensemble was evident as they lent an elegant and supple congruity to Handel’s score, with the sense of team-work between musicians further displayed by each soloist also being an integral member of the chorus. The balance between players and singers was consistently spot on, both in solo and ensemble passages, showing an unmistakable musical sensitivity between all on stage, especially towards the ending of the first part, where the violins and violas decorated the score almost like spun sugar.
Soprano soloist Mhairi Lawson sang with an effortless sounding buoyancy, most notably in the aria opening the third part I know that my Redeemer Liveth, where her radiant spin and perceptive ornamentation gave a sublime quality to the aria. Rowan Hellier’s dusky alto voice was well suited to the doleful air He was despised, although at some points in the oratorio it sounded as though the music was a little low for her tessitura. Bass Matthew Brook was an excellent orator, communicating his recitative passages with a depth of personality and crystal clear annunciation, while tenor Matthew Long sang with a clear, sweet tone with remarkably finely tuned dynamic control.
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