Music review

Concert's sacred music glorious

Whoever might have backed away from the Arkansas Choral Society's presentation of two pieces of French sacred music -- Gabriel Faure's Requiem and Francis Poulenc's Gloria -- at Calvary Baptist Church in Little Rock on Friday night because it sounded like a stuffy, academic evening -- well, it was anything but and also glorious in every sense of the word.

The program was a smart collaboration of the Choral Society, the University of Arkansas at Monticello Concert Choir and, for Faure's Requiem, the Arkansas Youth Chorale. Robert Holden was the baritone soloist in the Requiem and Maria Fasciano the soprano soloist in both selections. Backed by more than 30 members of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra and directed by Kent Skinner, the musical ability on display was substantial and truly something to behold.

A quiet power was brought to the Requiem, a piece that debuted in the late 1800s. The orchestra and mass voices made Faure's sumptuous melodies come alive. Holden's solo in the "Offertoire" section was warm and rich. The "Sanctus" section was made playful with a lovely call and response between the chorus and the violins. In the middle of the piece there was a momentary weakness in the choir but it quickly recovered, especially for the closing "In Paradisum."

Poulenc's Gloria was practically riotous compared with the piece that came before. The "Laudamus Te" section sounded more like a lost, bright Broadway tune than sacred choral work. The orchestra really showed off in the way the musicians attacked Poulenc's lively composition. Fasciano's bold tenor, featured much in Gloria, effortlessly filled the room. Gloria is built to give the soprano soloist a huge moment at the end. Fasciano was up to it and then some and effectively put a bow on a gift of an evening.

There will be a second performance of Faure's Requiem and Poulenc's Gloria at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at the Fine Arts Auditorium, University of Arkansas at Monticello, U.S. 425, Monticello. Tickets for the Monticello concert, part of the Seark Concert Association's 2016-17 season, are $20. Ticket information is available from (870) 460-1060, by email at searkconcert@uamont.edu or on the website, www.searkconcert.org.

Metro on 04/29/2017

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