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Christ Church Cathedral
February 11, 2023
The beginning of this concert was unusual in two respects. For a start, the ensemble began by singing at the back of the church, then moved up the main aisle as they continued their performance of William Byrd's "Afflicti pro peccatis nostris". This was pleasingly novel. More disorienting was the fact that the programme stated that the concert would begin with the "Te lucis ante terminum" by Thomas Tallis and Thomas Morley's "Nolo mortem peccatoris". There was no announcement of a change to the programme and we never did hear either piece.
As a result of the unannounced programme change, it took me a while to realise what I was hearing, but once I did, I was enchanted. I always think that there are two basic approaches to the performance of renaissance polyphony: (a) ecstatic and impetuous and (b) ethereal and contemplative. The Gesualdo Six definitely fall into the ethereal and contemplative camp. Their tempi are generally on the slow side and each phrase has a jewel-like perfection. The performances have expressive variety without outré gestures. Good taste reigns everywhere. The result is high loveliness.
The performance of Byrd's "Tristitia et anxietas" was, indeed, sad and anxious but the ensemble's nuanced performance nicely captured how the sadness is supplanted by resignation or acceptance. As is often the case, Byrd's music is a perfect illustration of Zarlino's dictum that the "beauty and charm of every composition resides in these: the movement of the melodic parts, ascending or descending in similar or contrary motion".
The ensemble moved about the cathedral as it performed Robert White's "Christe qui lux es et dies", taking advantage of the varying acoustics on offer. For some repertoires, the acoustics of Christ Church can be — to put it mildly — challenging. But this music settled comfortably into the space.
Only two works by Sheryngham (Christian name and dates unknown) are believed to survive. Of these, the four-part carol "Ah, gentle Jesu" was on this evening's programme. Juxtaposed with the works of Byrd and Tallis it seemed naïve and was given an appropriately simple performance.
William Byrd's "Vigilate" has a character quite different from many of the other pieces on this programme. The text enjoins listeners to watch for the coming of the lord of the house at some unknown time and it has an edginess absent from most of the other pieces we heard. The Gesualdo Six responded with a quick, insistent performance, full of nervous energy. Their voices rose when they reached "omnibus dico" (I say to all) just to ensure that we were all really going to watch for the lord.
Next, the ensemble was joined by the Christ Church Choirs, including the Cathedral's children's choir — thirty or so choristers in all. The result was highly satisfying. The intonation remained excellent as the choristers added a glowing penumbra of sound to the ensemble's soloists. The performances of Byrd's Ave Verum and "If ye love me" by Tallis were controlled, restrained, even languid. The choral set concluded with Park's arrangement of Tallis' "Glory to thee, my God, this night". If you had happened into a choral evensong at some famous old English cathedral and heard this performance, you would not have been disappointed.
The ensuing performance of Tallis' "In manus tuas" (Into your hands) was short, sweet and suitably solemn. "When David heard" by Thomas Tomkins was given the translucent lustre of the finest Wedgewood porcelain. The refined performance made Tomkins' use of dissonance, if anything, even more heart-rending.
The concert came to a joyful conclusion with a buoyant performance of Byrd's "Laudate pueri Dominum".
This performance was the second in Victoria by the Gesualdo Six. I missed the first one, five years ago, and, having heard the second, deeply regret having done so. I expect that they will be back. Park certainly angled for another invitation just before the end of the performance. I certainly intend to be in the audience again when they return and I highly recommend that all music-lovers be there as well. This was a remarkable evening of singing.
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