Masterful Missa solemnis at Disney Hall

By Truman C. Wang
Sunday, March 28, 2004

The Los Angeles Master Chorale and Orchestra

Grant Gershon, Music Director
Elissa Johnston, soprano
Paula Rasmussen, mezzo-soprano
Stanford Olsen, tenor
Ron Li-Paz, bass-baritone

Sunday, March 28, 2004, 7pm at Walt Disney Hall

here were many merits to the Master Chorale’s presentation of Beethoven’s Grand Mass in D (Missa Solemnis), chief among them being a superb quartet of soloists and a heavenly rendition of the Benedictus. 

Other merits included the magnificent Chorale, who sang throughout with a winning fervor, capping the final bars of the Gloria with an animalistic display of wild syncopations and head-reeling modulations.  Clean, emphatic articulation of lines (the many “Et”’s in this work that were so important to Beethoven) was not lost amid all this splendor and excitement.  Their total confidence in tackling Beethoven’s impossible demands, whether in soprano entries on top B-flat or exposed entries for tenors alone, brought incandescent results.

The soloists were also up to the task in handling late-Beethoven’s near-superhuman, not- always-congenial, vocal writing.  They were the faithful supplicants in the Kyrie, fresh and cleanly focused of tone, and the tormented souls in the Agnus Dei, fighting an uphill battle with an army of menacing brasses.  Bass-baritone Ron Li-Paz sang with a firm, full tone in his Agnus Dei solo.  Belcanto lyric tenor Stanford Olsen floated some ravishing soft high notes in the Benedictus.  Elissa Johnston’s sweet, radiant soprano was balm to the tormented, frightened soul.  Paula Rasmussen’s dusky mezzo-soprano blended effectively with the ensemble. 

Concertmaster Barry Socher’s gentle, serene playing of the violin solo set the tone for the most glowing account of the Benedictus this side of heaven.  The violin, lush, warm in tone and slowly descending, hovered over the orchestra and singers like a ray of light.  It produced a miraculous effect on the notorious Disney Hall audience – for ten minutes at least, their bronchial afflictions were completely cured.

(Left to Right) bass-baritone Ron Li-Paz, tenor Stanford Olsen, mezzo-soprano Paula Rasmussen, soprano Elissa Johnston

Music Director Grant Gershon again proved he’s the master of the Chorale.  The tempi were exhilaratingly fast without being frenetic or chaotic; the dynamics were strong and well-judged, with plenty in reserve for the next big climax.  A few flubs in the horns aside, the Master Chorale Orchestra were on magnificent form, featuring, among other delights, Joel Timm’s eloquent oboe playing in the opening of the Kyrie. 

For the next LAMC concert on April 17 and 18, the great Helmuth Rilling will be at the helm to conduct an all-Bach program. Do not miss it!

For tickets to other Los Angeles Master Chorale concerts, call (213) 972-7211 or visit www.lamc.org

 

Truman C. Wang is editor of Classical Voice.

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