Intermedii and The Ni Ensemble
Christmas Concert, Monday 18 December 2006
Intermedii’s Christmas Concert – with the award-winning Ni Ensemble – in the Konvikt Centre on Monday was excellent, fresh and original in choice of music and readings. No mean feat, then, and almost enough in itself for a positive evening out.
But this was State of the Art! Lyrical or virtuosic, the seamless ensemble singing (very much the equivalent to the sound of a long established string quartet) was enhanced by the stunning brass virtuosity of The Ni Ensemble which, despite fireworks, remained always lyrical and considered. I will never forget the rich and well balanced sonority of their performance of Gesualdo’s Peccantem Me Quotidie – a blend of Renaissance motivic cantabile and psychotic dissonance.
Personal highlights: the glittering Kerry Turner arrangements of In Dulci Jubilo and the superbly telescoped For Unto Us a Child is Born; Miguel Turrion’s combination of carol-kitsch and the Islamic Call to Prayer, tinsel and passion, a cultural mélange David Fanshawe would have been proud to write (Google: African Sanctus), the Gesualdo and the following blue-sour Bernstein ‘Simple Song’ and the very English sounds of Tallis and Holst.
Years ago I wrote a review of the first Intermedii concert (1995). The promise has been fulfilled. Intermedii are a thoroughly integrated vocal chamber ensemble of the highest professional quality, with colour, range, intonation and attack to die for. They should be proud, so ….. Hats Off!
Dafydd Bullock