Issue #73
Last Update May 10, 2013
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Arts Musica Viva by Gert Innsry October 26, 2010 Musica Viva, the resident choral and chamber group of New York's All Souls Church, presented an outstanding Early Music concert on October 24th. The chorus and chamber orchestra, conducted by Wally Klauss, was enhanced by guest artist Marion Verbruggen, recorder. Ms. Verbruggen's virtuosity made the evening especially memorable.
There are few choral conductors better than Mr. Klauss, although the instrumental members of his group seem to fare less well than the singers. The opening “Ode for Saint Cecilia's Day”, by Purcell, featured a perfect chorus and an instrumental group with violin problems. When Ms. Verbruggen took the stage for Telemann's “Suite in A Minor”, the violin problems disappeared. One had the feeling that Ms. Verbruggen had take the orchestral members under her wing and given them the direction they needed. As for Ms. Verbruggen herself, she was nothing short of miraculous. Her joy in the music was obvious to the audience, and she understood that a dance suite is to be danced, putting her whole body into it. As for her dexterity and phrasing – there is probably no recorder player that can equal her, including her former teacher, the eminent Frans Bruggen.
One of the measures of a great instrumentalist is his or her ability to support other soloists without overshadowing them. In the Telemann cantata “Am Sonntage Estomihi” she and the excellent soprano Mary Hubbell enriched each other's performance. The Buxtehude cantata “Alles, was ihr tut mit Worten oder mit Werken”, featuring Steven Moore, baritone, finished the first half of the program. Mr. Moore was a fine baritone, and the choral work in both cantatas was first rate.
The second half of the program included “Les Folies d'Espagne” by Marin Marais,and Bach's “Christ lag in todesbanden” in which Ms. Verbruggen did not participate. Vivaldi's “Concerto No. 5 in F major” was another Verbruggen triumph. The presto section in particular had a clarity and velocity that was amazing. The combination of joy, skill and artistry displayed by Ms. Verbruggen is rare. We are lucky to have her.
New York Stringer is published by NYStringer.com. For all communications, contact David Katz, Editor and Publisher, at david@nystringer.com