CSO, May Festival Chorus Celebrate Mozart

(first published in The Cincinnati Post Dec. 7, 1991)

The Cincinnati Symphony and May Festival Chorus gathered at Music Hall Friday night to, in the words of CSO music director Jesús López-Cobos, "celebrate" the 200th anniversary of Mozart's death (Dec. 5, 1791).

While "celebrate" might seem the wrong word, it really wasn't inappropriate for the concert that followed. Not with the program Lopez-Cobos selected, contrasting Mozart's Requiem with his earlier “Vesperae solenne de confessore. “ And not with the introduction López-Cobos provided in Mozart's own words.

In a letter Mozart wrote to his father when the older man was ill, the composer spoke of death as "the best and truest friend of mankind," and of overcoming his own fears. Each night could be his last, Mozart said, yet he was neither "morose nor sad." With such words to set the tone, it seemed wrong to feel otherwise.

The brief, opening "Ave verum corpus," exquisitely sung by the May Festival Chorale, illustrated perfectly the beauty and directness of Mozart's expression. The Vespers, a bright, objective work, was sung with clarity and joy; soprano Benita Valente sounding sweet but subdued in the ravishing "Laudate Dominum."

López-Cobos led the Requiem with a keen sense for its dramatic contrasts, underscoring the deep feeling which inspired it.

Tight, frozen exclamations by the May Festival Chorus ("Rex") led into the "Rex tremendae," giving way to soft, imploring tones. The "Confutatis" unfolded in one long decrescendo (the women muffed their intonation on their first entrance), while in the "Lacrimosa," he drove for a relentless climax.

Miss Valente, Camellia Johnson, Richard Clement and Friedrich Molsberger gave effective expression to the solo portions, although Molsberger tended to flicker out in his low register.

Concert review - CINCINNATI SYMPHONY. Friday night, Music Hall. Jesús López-Cobos, conductor. Benita Valente, soprano. Camellia Johnson, mezzo- soprano. Richard Clement, tenor. Friedrich Molsberger, bass. May Festival Chorus and Chorale, Robert Porco, director. PROGRAM: All-Mozart. "Ave Verum Corpus." “Vesperae solenne de confessore, “ K.339. Requiem, K. 626. Attendance: 2,481. Repeat: Tonight, 8:30, Music Hall.