Cantiamo Sonoma

CANTIAMO SONOMA SINGS AN INSPIRED GOOD FRIDAY MOZART REQUIEM CONCERT

In retrospect, Cantiamo Sonoma’s April 18 performance of Mozart’s Requiem sadly presaged the loss of Pope Francis on Easter Monday. Santa Rosa’s Church of the Roses was packed even more than usual for their annual Good Friday concert, and Carol Menke led a musically solid, powerfully heartfelt rendition of Mozart’s iconic deathbed final work.

A good half of this masterpiece is actually the work of his pupil Franz Xaver Süssmayr, the 25-year old Austrian opera composer, with contributions/edits from others since. However, Mozart left behind enough sketches and notes so that the completed work sounds consistently like his own hand from beginning to end.

Most impressive here was the choir. The already strong twenty-three voice Cantiamo ensemble was joined by thirteen singers from the Presbyterian Chancel Choir and Community, resulting in a powerfully moving experience, soaring mournfully in the adagios and flying effortlessly through the runs in the allegro sections.

Ms. Menke’s charismatic leadership facilitated as always an emotionally colorful and energetic musical journey. The orchestra of fifteen plus organ played with solid familiarity and musical tension, flowing plaintively or hopefully, from the opening dirge of the Introit/Kyrie to the hollow final chord of the Agnus Dei.

The solo singers Connie Vocature, soprano, Liesel Hall, mezzo soprano, Drew Bolander, tenor, and baritone Gene Wright, were well-balanced, clear and sonorous.

Although the audience had been requested to depart in silence at the close, applause erupted anyway, a spontaneous expression of gratitude for a beautiful, moving hour of soul-replenishment.