Requiem - Salt Lake Choral Artists

Saturday afternoon, Dr. Brady Allred and the Salt Lake Choral Artists (SLCA) organization presented Mozart's Requiem. A true community effort, Allred invited his own Youth Honor Choir from the SLCA, Paradigm High School, Bear River High School, and the American Preparatory Academy to come together to present one of the greatest choral masterpieces to ever be penned. This concert took place in Libby Gardner Concert Hall on the University of Utah campus in Salt Lake City.

Before this review is to continue, I feel a need to quickly say one thing about this concert that isn't in regard to the actual performance. It is really inspiring to see community efforts and collaborative work like in this concert. To see five or more ensembles together to create music is what music and community is about. From concerts and music, collaborations, and their Choral Academy, Brady Allred and the Salt Lake Choral Artists ought to be commended for their collaborative efforts and community involvement and outreach. Something I hope other organizations will do or continue to do, and all will continue to expand.

Accompanied by the Young Artist Chamber Players (conducted by Jack Ashton) and joined by guest soloists Tara Van Dusen Wardle, Valerie Hart Nelson, Tyler Nelson, and Christopher Holmes, Allred and his singers gave a stunning performance of this oft-performed masterpiece. Written practically on his death-bed and finished by one of his students, Mozart's Requiem is full of passion, nobility, fire, and balance. Each of the soloists were in fine form and executed the work excellently; they sounded strongest and best during the quartet movements as their voices balanced and complimented each other exquisitely.

Dr. Brady Allred

The Young Artists Chamber Players is a small ensemble of extremely talented young people. They handled Mozart's choir with delicacy and performed the music as veteran players. They were well prepared proving a delight to watch these young performers working with each other to interpret such fine music.

The real star of the program was Allred's well-prepared singers. Almost exclusively high-school aged students, they sounded like many university ensembles aspire to be. With a warm and mature sound, that didn't sound affected or forced, they sounded natural and rich. From the excitement and crispness of the "Introitus and Kyrie", the choir proved their range of colors had no limit to the high drama in the following legendary "Dies Irae." At times the work felt a bit laborious as it may be a little too long (nearly one hour in length) and tested some of the kids stamina, but movements like the "Confutatis" and "Sanctus" found new energy. It was hard to believe such young voices could evoke such a sound. Another slam dunk from Brady Allred and the Salt Lake Choral Artists organization.

This evening at 7:30 the Salt Lake Choral Artists will present Brahms' Requiem at Libby Garner Concert Hall.