Classical Concert Reviews Cinci

@uc_ccm and @ccm_choralstudies rang in the Christmas season with its annual Feast of Carols concert, with performances drawn from ensembles across the campus of the University of Cincinnati and the Cincinnati Youth Choir in a breezy 90 minutes of music, all under the guidance of director of choral studies Joe Miller. Particular highlights from this performance included an appearance from the Concert Chorale and Chamber Singers from Milford High School in a joyful Gloucestershire Wassail and a unique arrangement of In the Bleak Midwinter by Jacob Narverud. Piccolo Coro of the Cincinnati Youth Chour contributed a chipper Carol of the Cuckoo by Carolyn Jennings.
The UC Choruses, comprising non-music majors, displayed its jazzy side in music and choreography in a fun medley of The Man with the Bag and Santa Baby. Highest praise goes to the CCM Chamber Choir and Chorale, who brought a diverse range of music in their selections throughout the program. These included a luscious interpretation of Eric Whitacre’s Lux Arumque and a stirring arrangement by Rosephanye Powell of the spiritual Sweet Little Jesus Boy.
With accompaniment primarily provided by piano and brass, the concert fit CCM’s Corbett Auditoriym well, even if it’s acoustics may have left something to be desired. This felt particularly true jn an excerpt of Monteverdi’s Vespers, as the brass seemed to be more prominent than the piano and chorus.
Regardless, Feast of Carols as a Cincinnati choral tradition is in good hands, and I am certainly looking forward to future performances to come in the new year and spring semester on campus.