The Joy Chorale in Concert
with members of Braddell Heights Symphony Orchestra
conducted by Khor Ai Ming
SOTA Concert Hall, Singapore
3rd April 2016
A Review by
Hawk Liu
It was a joy to witness this
Faure's Requiem concert. The Requiem was a lovely work and I looked forward to it and I wasn't disappointed. The small orchestral forces blended surprisingly well for the seemingly big sound it needs to drive. The orchestra worked well together to produce a beautiful soundscape that is so important in the work. There was a weird moment when the cellos did 'leave the soundsound' for a few seconds and another when the horns went strangely off pitch. Despite the hitches, it was a great ensemble.
The Joy Chorale handled the score well. Great alto passage in the second movement - beautifully blended and sung with a lovely tone. The tenors sang well in their solo passage in the first movement albeit soft due to their small number. One thing was certain though, the work was sung with passion throughout and there wasn't a moment when I didn't feel they cared about what they sang and that's a rare quality.