Review: Allegro "Winter Blessings" Concert

Tonight I had the pleasure of attending the 2nd of 2 concerts by the Allegro group of Kansas City children's choirs.  I had attended the fall concert at the Unity Temple on the plaza which was very nice, but tonight's service at Visitation church in the Brookside neighborhood was something very special.  It did what nothing so far has been able to do for me; put me in a proper "Christmas mood."

First off, in the spirit of full disclosure, I must admit that I am a biased reviewer; my son is a member of one of this group's ensembles, Allegro con Spirito (or, just Spirito, for short.  each of the Choirs has a similar naming scheme, but I shall just refer to them by their final contribution to the Allegro con... formulation) which is in its first year as Allegro's all male choir.

In the opening paragraph I referred to this concert as a service as the setting was indeed a beautiful, modern interpretation of a classical, Spanish-inspired Catholic church.  Its location just south of the Country Club Plaza and west of UMKC was easy to find and the acoustics were phenomenal.  In addition, the modern, adjustable lighting scheme added to the ambiance which the musicians and singers set to achieve.

The music chosen was by and large sacred, drawing from a wide range of traditions, styles and instrumentation.  in my opinion, this bold decision was a wonderful change of pace from our local public school concerts where sacred music is rarely featured so prominently.  This was definitely a Christmas concert.  Not a "holiday" or "winter" concert.  Recent attempts to strip the historical Jesus and the tenants of the faith he taught from the holiday named for him not only baffle me, but, as a pastor, also tend to infuriate me at times.

Prior to the processional, one of the singers stepped into the pulpit wearing a Santa hat to ask the congregation to sing along on the processional hymn "O come all ye faithful".  While I personally cringed at seeing the Santa hat so near a crucifix of our Lord which arose to a height of 10 feet or so above the pulpit, I don't fault the youth who probably didn't know better.  An adult should have said something to her about it before hand.

The concert then began with a processional in the dark with the youths carrying battery operated candles as they entered the sanctuary in the round and circled it on the four-sided balcony as well. Although the program only listed lyrics for verse three of the hymn, those in attendance seemed to know the first two verses and sang them with gusto.  The amazing thing was that we could also hear the Allegro choirs over the congregation and their addition was bright, full, and added a richness to the hymn that would not be found in a normal advent or Christmas church service.

The entire ensemble then sang for the first time ever, "Hark, What Music Fills the Sky" by resident composer Andrea Ramsey.  It was a nice piece and compliments her other numbers which I was able to hear at the fall concert.  This young composer has a talent for writing music appropriate for the younger voices which seem to flow quite nicely.

These first two songs were sung by all the choirs.  Now, it was time for Moto and Brio to share the stage as they sang "Carol of the Bells" and "Somewhere in My Memory" without a break for applause between them.  Both were nicely done by these, the senior most voices in the Allegro family.  The latter piece by John Williams began with a wonderful orchestral introduction.  Though they were not acknowledged in the program, nor at the venue, it needs to be said that this small chamber-sized group was a very integral part of the program; especially the first half as they really rounded out the night and added a real "professional" feel to the whole affair.

Next, Moto got the stage to themselves  as they sang a nice rendition of "I Wander as I Wander" and "Dashing through the snow" arranged by John Leavitt.  Leavitt is well-known in sacred music circles (especially Lutherans and Catholics) and currently teaches at Midwestern Nazarene University in Olathe and so to year this arrangement of a non-sacred holiday favorite was a pleasant surprise.

Now it was time for the men to provide cover for the change of choirs on stage as Spirito took to the rear balcony for "Contata Domino" by de la Lande.  Unfortunately, my seat in the left transept did not allow the best location for hearing this song, but having heard the boys rehearsing it in the studio a few weeks back, I knew the notes were right; my location tonight, however, was just not acoustically in the right place to hear the richness this song contains.

Vivo was next in the lineup of the evening with three songs.  Handel's "He Shall Feed His Flock" from Messiah, another fine Ramsey piece, "What Can I Bring?" and finally, "Joy to the World."  The first stuck in my head as a fine example of controlled, uniform unison singing with voices well-matched to one another.

As Vivo exited the chancel and Spirito took their place, Brio sang "Jolly Old Saint Nicolas" from a corner balcony.  As the senior-most female choir in the Allegro family they were, of course, crisp, on tune and very good.  My only complaint would be that this song with its childlike, whimsical lyrics, was sung a little too "high-brow" for my taste.  Let kids be (and sound like) kids when the music is appropriate.

Spirito took to the risers for "Coventry Carol" and "Little Saint Nick." Jake Naverud has done a great job with this new choir of just 22 voices.  A few more voices would have helped support the pitch on "Coventry Carol", but it is very clear from the smiles on their faces and by the exuberant way in which Jake directs that this is going to be a great "guy's choir"; not an easy think to accomplish with teenage boys.  "Little Saint Nick was clearly a joy for singers and listeners alike.  Spirito is on its way to being just as highly thought of as Brio as long as they keep this keep up this level of hard work and if they can get a few more voices to round out the sound.

Though not an intermission, "Deck the Halls" was a nice break in the program as once again, the audience was invited to sing along with all the choirs.

The final set was probably the most powerful of the evening.  Starting with an interesting double choir effect with half of the Brio choir in the chancel with the other half in the rear balcony, Vivaldi's "Chirste Eleison" was light, crisp and very well-paced.  It was followed by "Gaudete! Gaudete!" which was quite powerful and was sung by all the choirs combined.  "Before the Paling of the Star" by Tom T. Shelton, Jr. was very nice piece which seemed to have a modern flair about it and was quite interesting to listen to.  I liked it.  Next, Shelton's "I Saw Three Ships" was a completely different style of piece and was performed by Brio only.  It reminded me a little bit like a Gilbert and Sullivan piece with its very quick, and full-chord-ed accompaniment.

Vivo, Moto, and Brio then sang the first of a pair of Bob Chilcott pieces.  "This Joy" had a lovely, full sound that filled the room before all the choirs finished with "For Him All Stars Have Shown," an excellent piece which ties together wonderfully the teachings of the first two articles of the Apostles Creed, tying Christ as the second person of the Trinity to his presence with the Father at creation.

As a Recessional, the combined choirs repeatedly sang the first verse of "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" as the choirs exited the sanctuary in darkness with the exception of their hand-held candles.  The men were the first to leave and the other choirs followed until there was a solitary voice singing the familiar O Antiphon as she receded to the narthex.  It was a beautiful ending to a beautiful evening.  Regrettably, however, the beautiful silence which enrobed the room after the last solitary voice concluded her offering was broken within 5 seconds by an exuberant person (a proud parent?) in the front row of the section in which I was seated who began vigorously applauding.

The silence now broken, the room erupted into thankful applause as these children had completed a concert worthy of earthly and heavenly praise.  I can't  wait till spring and the opportunity to hear them all again, this tiem in the brand new, wonderful, beautiful, Kaufman Center for the Performing Arts.