2008 Woodie Awards
Bach Festival Returns to Rollins College
The choir's performance never lost the intensity within the story and the music.
Jami Furo
Issue date: 11/4/05 Section: Arts & Entertainment
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On Saturday night and Sunday afternoon, the Bach Festival Society of Winter Park performed Mendelssohn's "Elijah" in the Knowles Memorial Chapel. It was a fabulous performance, as is expected of the Bach Festival Choir and Orchestra, which consistently delivers spectacular concerts every season. True to form, they performed the classic oratorio beautifully. The 182-piece choir and 41-piece orchestra were under the masterful baton of Dr. John Sinclair.
Dr. Sinclair's expressive conducting drew the sound, energy, and emotion out of the performers in an absolutely captivating manner. The conductor, orchestra, choir, and soloists all seemed completely engaged in the work, and that excitement and focus produced a breathtaking sound.
The choir's dramatic interjections between the arias and recitatives created the effect of an earth-shattering event, giving the already powerful story even more weight and significance. The choir's loud, full dynamics were not unrivaled by their soft dynamics. As their volume fell, they never lost the intensity present within the story and within the music itself.
The orchestra also shone in their performance. The cello section played particularly well, swelling with the haunting melodies with such finesse that the four instruments sounded like one. The Bach Festival Society took great pride in bringing in fine professional vocalists to sing the solos throughout the oratorio.
Soprano Sharla Nafziger, who sang the part of the widow, performed with both force and grace. Her voice projected in such a way that it filled every inch of the chapel, but she also sang with angelic elegance and poise. Mezzo-soprano Adriana Zabala sang that part of the angel and the alto arias. She sang with such a sweet sound that when she sang "Woe unto them who forsake Him! Destruction shall fall upon them," it made even the violence and melancholy of the text utterly appealing.
Tenor Robert Bracey's voice soared as he sang the part of Obadiah in the work. His remarkable voice added a refreshing brightness to the overall dark color of the work. Baritone Richard Zeller sang the part of none other than Elijah himself. Zeller sang some of the finest aria performances of the oratorio. His warm tone and overwhelming expression captured both the heroism and desperation of Elijah's character perfectly.
Dr. Sinclair's expressive conducting drew the sound, energy, and emotion out of the performers in an absolutely captivating manner. The conductor, orchestra, choir, and soloists all seemed completely engaged in the work, and that excitement and focus produced a breathtaking sound.
The choir's dramatic interjections between the arias and recitatives created the effect of an earth-shattering event, giving the already powerful story even more weight and significance. The choir's loud, full dynamics were not unrivaled by their soft dynamics. As their volume fell, they never lost the intensity present within the story and within the music itself.
The orchestra also shone in their performance. The cello section played particularly well, swelling with the haunting melodies with such finesse that the four instruments sounded like one. The Bach Festival Society took great pride in bringing in fine professional vocalists to sing the solos throughout the oratorio.
Soprano Sharla Nafziger, who sang the part of the widow, performed with both force and grace. Her voice projected in such a way that it filled every inch of the chapel, but she also sang with angelic elegance and poise. Mezzo-soprano Adriana Zabala sang that part of the angel and the alto arias. She sang with such a sweet sound that when she sang "Woe unto them who forsake Him! Destruction shall fall upon them," it made even the violence and melancholy of the text utterly appealing.
Tenor Robert Bracey's voice soared as he sang the part of Obadiah in the work. His remarkable voice added a refreshing brightness to the overall dark color of the work. Baritone Richard Zeller sang the part of none other than Elijah himself. Zeller sang some of the finest aria performances of the oratorio. His warm tone and overwhelming expression captured both the heroism and desperation of Elijah's character perfectly.