John Lambert,
Spectator, December 1999
Since 1995, when
William J. Weisser took over leadership of the Capital Area Chorale,
the choir has made steady progress. Its holiday program, entitled "Gloria:
The Music of Christmas," heard December 9 at Edenton Street United Methodist
Church (and repeated the following Friday in the Chapel at Hale High
School), encompassed an admirable mixture of classics and more traditional
fare that reflected the wide-ranging interests of the group and its
director. Chesnokov's "Sing We Noel," with organ and bells, was a stirring
introduction. A Gloria by J.C. Bach proclaimed the evening's theme;
the piece itself ended somewhat abruptly, as if it wanted a coda or
additional elaboration of the opening section, but it was otherwise
joyous and bright. Two rarely-heard seasonal numbers by William Billings
were most welcome; these and Thomas Talley's "Behold that Star," a lovely
spiritual, demonstrated the choir's overall precision and musicianship.
The latter featured remarkable dynamic control and fine solos by Judy
Hendrickson and Theressa McDaniels. Heartfelt readings of four familiar
carols brought the first half to a close; the last of these, "Tomorrow
Shall be my Dancing Day," was presented in a beautiful setting by Gardner
that made good use of percussion. The second part was generally lighter.
It began with Harry Simeone's "'Twas the Night before Christmas," a
musical treatment of the famous poem that was given often in the '60s
but is a rarity today. Rutter's "Angels' Carol" was one of the evening's
highlights. Simeone's "Little Drummer Boy" and an Irving Berlin medley
were warmly received by the audience. The program ended with Donald
Fraser's "This Christmastide," written for Jessye Norman, and a final
"Gloria," taken from Daniel Pinkham's impressive "Christmas Cantata,"
a score that is past due for local revival. This concert provided yet
another example of the vocal polish Weisser has achieved, the hallmarks
of which are solid, mature choral sound and clear diction.