Classical Concert Reviews Cinci

@collegium_cincy presented its annual performance of George Frederic Handel’s oratorio Messiah to a sold-out audience at Cincinnati’s beautiful Christ Church Cathedral (@christchurchcathedralcincy under the leadership of its artistic director, Matthew Phelps and featuring 16 of the best local solo and choral singers, including some new faces who sang this masterpiece for the first time.
All sixteen of them were given ample opportunities to shine on their own in solos throughout the evening. Particular standouts included sopranos Kaylyn Baldwin, Rachel Koberbick and Melanie Woodruff giving luscious, sensuous and well-rounded performances in arias such as I Know That My Redeemer Liveth, How Beautiful Are the Feet and If God Be For Us; altos Maya McGuire and Katherine Gardin in supple, relaxed readings of He was Despised and Thou Art Gone Up On High; tenors Henry Benson, Reed Gnepper and Logan Wagner tackling their demanding solos with ease and grace and baritones Soren Pederson, Thom Dreeze and Grant Jackson providing dramatic weight in their moments in the spotlight such as The Trumpet Shall Sound, Why Do the Nations and But Who May Abide.
The choruses throughout were insightful, elegant and full of effortless control, helped by the inclusion of an orchestra made up of only 12 musicians (one on each part). Phelps’ conducting throughout was sweeping yet intimate, which came to the fore in choruses like And He Shall Purify, Halllelujah, And the Glory of the Lord and Worthy Is the Lamb.
It is interesting to note that half of the singers assembled in this performance were singing Messiah for the first time, some of them also replacing other singers who fell ill during the rehearsal process. This shows the amazing versatility of Cincinnati’s choral music scene and the power of people like Matthew Phelps and vocal contractor Krista Cornish Scott to make this experience as loving, supportive and enjoyable as possible for these rising artists.
What an amazing way you help ring in the holiday season in Cincinnati!