Tokyo Performances

British Embassy Choir

December 4 at Otsuma Hall

The worst audience ever. Crying, talking babies throughout the first half with parents not having enough sense to remove them. People being led to seats during performances. Really quite frustrating.

In any event, some nice music. The opening Gabrieli done antiphonally with brass and timpani was beautiful. The Bach B-Minor Mass's Sanctus and Osanna were creditable, and the Daniel Pinkham Christmas Cantata seemed worth another hearing.

After the intermission I enjoyed hearing Britten's Hymn to the Virgin, also sung antiphonally, and Vaughan Williams' Wassail Song. These were interspersed with nice arrangements of several favorite carols as well as other small choral works.

The music put me in the Christmas spirit, but the poor audience took it right back.

posted by Larry Wells @ 7:18 PM