Featuring six of the eight choirs from the SLCA "family," and accompanied by a harp ensemble, the Salt Lake Choral Artists continually prove themselves to be a premier choral organization in a state where choral singing is too often taken for granted. With the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Utah Chamber Artists, various University choirs, Utah Symphony Chorus, and various other community organizations, it is easy to forget what truly remarkable choral singing is and Brady Allred and the SLCA remind us of what an experience it can be!
The concert on December 21, 2013, was a healthy mix of familiar Christmas tunes and newer and lesser-known carols. The concert, with hundreds of performers in different ensembles, flowed extremely smoothly. The harps would play interludes while the chorus members took their places making the laborious task of moving so many people seem like the simplest thing ever.
The Salt Lake Vocal Artists, dazzled as usual, with Stopford's "Ave Regina Vaelorum." Soprano, Tara Wardle, sang a spectacular solo accompanied by the choir of "Virgin Slumber Song," that placed so early in the program really caught the audience off guard. Also highlighted was Ashely Wright singing "O Holy Night," who stunned with a simple yet powerful moment of a carol this reviewer does not particularly enjoy.
The Women's Choir, under direction of Jane Fjeldsted, proved some excellent work has been happening. At each concert this group improves and their "Bring A Torch, Jeanette Isabella" was a wonderful interpretation and performance of a group that clearly loves what they do, and their music is as infectious as can be!
A low moment of the concert was Robert Ray's "Magnificat." Though soloist Laura Griffiths sang soulfully and excellently, imploring true gospel style and improvisation, the choir felt tedious and labored, and their attempted movement and clapping felt forced, phony, and awkward as they held their folders to sing and seemed quite immobile.
Of course, any concert at Christmas time with harps must include Britten's "Ceremony of Carols." Allred aptly chose the best selections from this work and proved a real highlight of the concert. Allred provides a powerful interpretation of all he touches, text-centered and catered to reach the very soul of every audience member from the casual listener to the most scrupulous artist.
At nearly 2 hours of actual music, this concert could have been longer and I doubt a single audience member would have complained. It was excellently programmed and well-performed. It is comforting to know that choral music in Salt Lake City is in the hands of these talented performers and conductors. There is still surely much to be surprised and inspired by in the Salt Lake Choral Artists "family." It would be a mistake to miss any future SLCA concerts this season!
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