A day of belated winter storms seems a fitting presage to this tempestuous performance of Verdi’s Messa da Requiem, with conductor James Pratt driving soloists, chorus and orchestra as though the Last Judgement were nigh.

Pratt’s extensive experience as a conductor, soloist and chorister in both the sacred and secular realms guarantees the right balance of liturgical and operatic drama required for a successful performance of Verdi’s choral masterpiece, written in 1874 to commemorate the death of the Italian writer Alessandro Manzoni.

Having the Perth Symphonic Chorus (of which Pratt is the musical director), the Perth Philharmonic Orchestra (which includes some of Perth’s finest orchestral musicians including concertmaster Shaun Lee-Chen) and a crack team of soloists comprising soprano Naomi Johns, mezzo Ashlyn Tymms, tenor Paul O’Neill and baritone James Clayton at his disposal seals the deal.

Perth Symphonic Chorus and Perth Philharmonic Orchestra. Photo © Daniel James Grant

The hushed “Introit” and an exquisite “Kyrie” immediately raise the bar high for the rest of the performance. Choir, orchestra and soloists are mere feathers on the breath of God...