Review Category: Germany

… the sound produced by this ensemble was quite simply phenomenal: flawless intonation, superb uniformity, perfect tonal balance, astounding dynamic range and sleek voice-leading. An Ave verum of William Byrd convinced through its heavenly ethereal sound.

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Not many choirs touch the heart; this was one such choir.

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The young ensemble under the direction of Douglas Lawrence began softly with Schütz’s tender motet: Selig sind die Toten (Blessed are the Dead) in German and convincing with their homogeneous sound in further sacred works by Byrd and in the radiant Jubilate Deo of Gabrieli.

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In J.S. Bach’s motet Jesu meine Freude one could clearly recognize director Douglas Lawrence’s penetrating interpretation, the musical shape strictly governed by the text, endowing the recurrent main melody with interesting variants. On an emotional level the gently blended voices and their balanced distribution often lent the text additional inner meaning …

… it was especially gratifying that these professionally trained, mostly young singers were met by a large audience in Ries.

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The modern works “Lamentations” (Hodgson), “Magnum mysterium” (Kristof) and “O sacrum convivium” (Messiaen) all portrayed a highly effective sonic magic.

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… resounding jubilation burst forth in Orlando Gibbons’ anthem “O Clap Your Hands”, considered one of the greatest treasures of Anglican sacred music. The women’s precise, treble-like intonation was carefully balanced with the full-bodied tenors and sonorous basses, and together they gloried vociferously in the mighty polyphony of the work.

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Flawless Intonation and Dynamics

The name Douglas Lawrence stands for excellence in choral offerings: flawless intonation, clear counterpoint and nuanced dynamics from a moving piano to a powerful forte. This combined with the cultivation of the choristers’ individual voices; each can blend perfectly with the choral sound and also step forward as an impeccable soloist.

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Highpoint of the Summer Concert Series

… powerfully convincing under their director, Douglas Lawrence, with enormous dynamic contrast and power, voice-leading always balanced and a flawless intonation – no mean feat! The ensemble persuaded with their perfect pronunciation of the German text, their effortless singing of the difficult coloratura and their consistently zesty interpretation.

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