Evading greatness: Christmas Oratorio at the Southbank Centre
Christmas Oratorio
Maria Keohane, Anke Vondung, Jeremy Ovenden, Stephan Loges, Vladimir Jurowski, London Philharmonic Choir and London Philharmonic Orchestra
Royal Festival Hall
Side Stalls Y48, gift
16 December 2017
Southbank page
Not every performance of Christmas Oratorio can be great. I know this logically to be true. It is, after all, a long and demanding work, the success of which requires stars to align in a way that is and should be relatively rare. And yet I expect greatness – such music surely demands it. Thus, unfairly, unreasonably, I was disappointed by this performance by the LPO, which, though entirely decent, was not great.
It is misrepresentative to single out the LPO in that verdict. They along with conductor Jurowski were by far and away the most impressive participants. Ensemble was good, instrumental soloists were largely excellent. Tempos were initially a bit on the fast side and then a bit on the slow side but that’s par for the course; no conductor seems to agree with my expectations exactly.
The LPC also did well, although it would never be my first choice to hear Bach sung by a top-heavy choir of this size. Still, they knew it and sang out with the relish and satisfaction you would hope for.
Vocal soloists are easier targets for criticism, and while no one from this quartet was bad the average was lacklustre. Soprano Maria Keohane has a lovely plangent tone but was not able to sing in tune; mezzo Anke Vondung was on surer musical ground but lacked the necessary power in her lower register; baritone Stephan Loges also struggled to carry. Tenor Jeremy Ovenden fared best, his ‘Ich will nur dir zu Ehren leben’, at Jurowski’s take-no-prisoners tempo, the evening’s highlight.
No comments yet.