THE INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY
Residency at Spitalfields Music (22 Dec 2008)
On Monday, John Eliot Gardiner, the Monteverdi Choir and the English Baroque Soloists gave the first of a six-concert series of motets, Brandenburg Concertos and cantatas from the Christmas Oratorio at Christ Church Spitalfields. With 30 singers, two cellos, a double bass and two organs, Gardiner's reading of the double-choir motet Komm, Jesu, Komm was more decorous than I would ordinarily favour. The steam-ironed repetitions of "Ich sehne mich" and broad rallentando on "Der saure Weg wird mir zu schwer" were almost Mendelssohnian, while the final chorale's long crescendo flirted with vulgarity. This was Bach driven like a Mercedes limousine. The sixth Brandenburg Concerto came from another aesthetic; something lighter, more intimate and improvisatory. The cantata Jauchzet, frohlocket sparkled, with some cheeky countermelodies from harpsichordist Ivan Moody, vivacious flutes and violins, a flawless trumpet solo from Neil Brough, and a tender alto solo from Clare Wilkinson. The series resumes on 5 January.
Anna Picard
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