Big Performance, too small audience

Last Friday, late afternoon, a chorus from California “The Pacific Boychoir Academy” performed in the grand hall of the Memorial. The quality of this chorus is exceptional. Between the six-year-old little men and the tenor and bass ensemble, the Pacific Boychoir Academy performed in a range of tones of high quality. The voices melt together, the technique is impeccable, the dynamism immense from the murmur of a few to the crescendo, but never forced.

From a vast repertoire of sacred music of Palestrina to Poulenc, folkloric songs and Negro spirituals via compositions from Mozart to Ravel, the chorus composed a magnificent presentation.

During the first half, six pieces were interpreted by 30 troubadours and 14 tenors and basses under the direction of Kevin Fox; then the tenors and basses, directed by Christopher Kula, performed two masterpieces such as the “Quatre petites priers de Saint Francois d’Assise” of Francis Poulenc. The result was impressive in its mastery and its musicality.

The second half was of the same high quality, the public particularly applauded the young soloist Jacob Wilson in his rendering of “Over Yonder,” an arrangement of a Negro spiritual. In the course of this sequence, the chorus performed in a rare perfection of “Ronde” by Maurice Ravel. Perhaps because it was because it was such a beautiful day or perhaps the publicity of this exceptional concert was too discreet but there should have been a bigger crowd. After a standing ovation fully earned, the choir presented an encore, “Hear My Prayer.” A larger crowd should have heard it.

The tour began in Notre Dame de Paris and will end at the American Cemetery at Colville-sur-Mer and the Saint Sulpice church.