Sacred meets profane with Ockeghem up against Estonian shaman drums.

Cell Block Theatre, Darlinghurst
April 19, 2015

The singers of Sydney-based choir bel a cappella are sterling representatives of the great tradition of amateur music making in this country and their 2015 season opener demonstrated outstanding ambition and commitment to composers old and new, international and home-grown. Under the inspired leadership of conductor Anthony Pasquill, they offered an enlightening programme of modern music, including Scotland’s James MacMillan, the Estonian Veljo Tormis plus two world premieres by Australian composers, bound together within the framework of a performance of the sublime Requiem of early-Renaissance master Johannes Ockeghem. With Poulenc’s Quatre Motets pour un Temps de Pénitence adding a little Gallic pungency to proceedings, the general air of reflection was given a little harmonic leaven. And then there was the shaman drum – but we’ll come to that later…

The choir itself is around 30 strong with resonant basses and light but not underpowered tenors. The women have a fresh, clean tone, though I would like to see a bit more differentiation between the soprano and alto sound. They make a good, ringing sound when singing out. Blend and balance are notable. The...