Classical Concert Reviews Cinci

@cincinnatifusionensemble presented the spring 2024 Sandy Sanborn Martin Memorial Program at @calvaryclifton with perhaps the most eclectic potpourri of music they have programmed yet. It was also a momentous occasion for the group, as tonight’s concert marked its 10th anniversary. Under the leadership of conductors Howard Helvey and Gwen Coleman, joined by guest organist Isabelle Demers (making her fifth appearance with CFE) and pianist Brad Caldwell, they presented a program filled with old and new choral chestnuts and new or otherwise rarely-heard works stretching from the 17th to 21st centuries.
CFE was in stellar form, with a vocal power and lyrical sensuality that stretched from the quietest pianissimos to the loudest triple fortes. Standout performances included strong readings of anthems such as Helvey’s O Be Joyful and Gerald Finzi’s most well-known anthem with organ, God Is Gone Up and gorgeously lyrical readings of Morten Lauridsen’s Sure on this Shining Night, Robert Pearsall’s motet Tu es Petrus (adapted from his madrigal Lay a Garland) and Helvey’s arrangement of the folk melody Wayfaring Stranger.
Isabelle Demers wowed the near-capacity audience at Calvary with stunning displays of virtuosity in a movement from Charles-Marie Widor’s Fifth Organ Symphony and newly created transcriptions of three movements from Igor Stravinsky’s ballet Petrushka. Her facility in the art of organ transcription and as a performer makes Demers one of the finest organ soloists working today.
Heri et Hodie, under Krista Cornish Scott (@crunchy.kj) wowed with fresh and exciting contemporary works for women’s voices and a new discovery of music by an Italian baroque composer active as a cloistered nun, a subset of Baroque composers Scott has championed for years.
Vox Veritatis (@voxveritatischoir) under the direction of Danielle Cozart Steele (@daniellecozartsteele) gave wonderful readings of a-cappella favorites by Kinley Lange and Anton Bruckner. Having been a supporter of CFE almost from the beginning, it has been amazing to see this ensemble grow into the musical force it has become and am eagerly looking forward to many more of their future concerts and projects.