Bach has no mercy on his soloists, expecting instrumental perfection from the very fallible human voice. One was too aware of the strain and effort being made in navigating tortuous lines, not helped by sometimes stolid continuo accompaniment.
The exception was mezzo Bianca Andrew, one of NBR New Zealand Opera's young emerging artists.
From the first phrase of her Et Exsultavit, she exuded confidence, connected with her audience and made it clear that we were here to rejoice.
The choir would have its chance for further rejoicing at the end of the evening in Haydn's Te Deum.
Haydn also lays down a few winding trails, which were smoothly negotiated. Auckland Choral gave us big, bold chords in the major and a nice line in beseeching chromaticism in the minor.
On the contemporary side, James Macmillan's A New Song was cautiously paced but, despite some rather exposed unison work, was an effective journey, boosted by James Tibbles' sonorous organ.
John Tavener's Song for Athene, a more transparent and treacherous piece, was less happy.
Sustained over a growling, quavering bass, it was hardly a surprise that somehow, over the course of six minutes, there would be an alarming drop in pitch.
Classical
What: Auckland Choral
Where: Holy Trinity Cathedral
When: Saturday
