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Critics Corner
The Master Chorale: Best of The Arts
in 2005!
"Singing. It always comes down to singing, I sometimes think. Singing is the
most basic of musical expressions, and by that standard, 2005 wasn't a bad year
for the performing arts in the Tampa Bay area.
If I had to pick a No. 1 highlight, it would probably be Dvorak's Requiem,
performed by the Florida Orchestra and Master Chorale of Tampa Bay. This Requiem
- unlike those of Mozart and Verdi - is rarely heard in the United States, and
it turns out to be full of beautiful writing for the voice. The chorale,
prepared by Richard Zielinski, was inspired, and the vocal quartet had one
powerful soloist, bass Stephen Powell."
-- excerpt - John Fleming, St. Petersburg Times, December 29, 2005
"The year just past offered plenty of art for thought, often inspired and
lingering in its impact. So today we pull out our ticket stubs from 2005 and
look back on some of our critical favorites.
Dvorak's Requiem: The Master Chorale of Tampa Bay proved again why it ranks
among the more respected choirs in the country, evident in its terrific
treatment of Antonin Dvorak's Requiem with The Florida Orchestra at Pasadena
Community Church.
Although the Requiem lacks the dramatic punch of those by Berlioz and Verdi, it
makes up for it in introspection, awe and melancholy. For nearly 100 minutes,
listeners could only marvel at the musicians' seamless craftsmanship and
concentration. Under the direction of guest conductor Grant Llewellyn and
prepared by Richard Zielinski, the 140-voice chorus sounded like a finely tuned
instrument from the opening "Rest eternal" to the perpetual light of the final
section."
-- excerpt - Kurt
Loft, Tampa Tribune, December 31, 2005
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