I had to attend UWW's String Ensemble and University Chorus Spring Concert Friday. The price was right, (free) it was easy to get to, and it's the last concert of this school year. Though the audience could have been larger for this great performance, those in attendence were appreciative and enthusiastic.
Spring was the theme among the twenty or so pieces, split between the violin trio and chorus, some going back 500 years. While many folks have difficulty just singing in English, this finely-tuned choir sang equally well in French, German and Italian, as well as English. With ten sopranos and only three altos the higher voices really carried the songs. Everyone seemed to enjoy being part of such an amazing and pure performance and there were plenty of smiles on display.
Though the String Ensemble was amazing, especially in their last piece - Pachelbel's Canon in D, I didn't much care for the one piece the men's chorus performed. Maybe it was the piece itself, but their version of Toller's A Red Red Rose seemed to lack enough feeling to match the lyrics of the song.
Having all year to practice together as a chorus really paid off. This was their finest performance of the year by far. I'm so glad the rest of the audience enjoyed it as much as I. We gave them a well-deserved standing ovation and called them back for a very fun encore of Passereau's Il es bel et bon.
Because director Brian McLinden chose to not have an intermission, I was back home less than two hours after I left. I seriously wasn't even missed. How unfair is that?
I have my ticket for today's Waukesha Choral Union production of Mozart's Requiem at St. Joe's. If I enjoy it half as much as UWW's concert it will be money well spent.
