(Naum Rousine. Pic by Val Adamson)
Regal, lavish, flamboyant and quite magnificently performed. (Review by
Keith Millar)
George Frederick Handel. One of the greatest composers of the baroque
era. He was born in Germany in 1685, but spent the larger part of his career in
Britain. He settled in London in 1712 and became a naturalised British subject
in 1727.
During his prolific and influential career, he composed 42 operas, 29
oratorios, more than 120 cantatas, trios and duets, numerous arias, chamber
music, many ecumenical pieces, odes and serenades and 16 organ concerti.
However, the most famous and beloved work to come from the pen of this
musical genius is beyond doubt, his oratorio Messiah. Composed in 1741,
with the scriptural text compiled by Charles Jennings, it remains one of the
most performed choral works of all time, with the rousing and majestic Hallelujah chorus being the best known
and adored examples of choral music ever written.
The oratorio is composed in three parts. Firstly, there are prophecies
about the coming of the Messiah. Then the birth, life, ministry, death,
resurrection of Christ. The final part is about Christ’s final victory over sin.
The content makes the work suitable for performance at both at Easter and
Christmas.
To that end, Durban’s Playhouse Company has over the years staged many
excellent productions of this iconic work over the Easter weekend. This year
was no different, with a memorable performance of the oratorio taking place on
Easter Sunday in the Opera Theatre at the Playhouse.
The production featured Durban’s outstanding KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic
Orchestra, the brilliant 60 strong Playhouse Chorale and esteemed soloists, Aubrey
Lodewyk (baritone), Khumbuzile Dlamini (soprano), Violina Anguelov (mezzo-soprano)
and Thabiso Masemene (tenor).
The conductor for the event was Naum Rousine who elicited a beautifully
nuanced, balanced and stirring performance from the orchestra and singers
alike.
The production was directed by Marcus Desando. The very experienced
Desando created a colourful spectacle with a partially-staged production. All the
choir members and soloists where dressed in biblical period costumes and moved
about a stage festooned with hay bales. To complete the panorama, biblical
scenes where projected onto a huge screen at the rear of the stage to act as a
backdrop.
Other than the magnificent Hallelujah
Chorus, Messiah offers a plethora
of other quite magnificent music. Choral works such as For Unto Us a Child Is Born and And
The Glory of the Lord along with superb
solos such as Every Valley, He Was
Despised, I Know That My Redeemer Liveth, Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter of Zion,
The Trumpet Shall Sound and Why Do
The Nations So Furiously Rage Together are all dramatic, beautiful and
moving songs.
This year’s production of Handel’s Messiah
was regal, lavish, flamboyant and quite magnificently performed. It was every
bit deserving of the extended standing ovation and cheers received at the end. –
Keith Millar
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