The June 18 performance of the Requiem by Hector Berlioz was perhaps the best performance I have seen at Verizon Hall. The music is powerful, and has great variety that flows from soft moments to all-out rapture.
The Grande Messe des morts, Op. 5 (or Requiem) by Hector Berlioz was composed in 1837 to remember soldiers who died in the Revolution of July 1830 (French Revolution of 1830, not the big, famous French Revolution of 1789-99 with the storming of the Bastille, etc.). As a Requiem Mass it places religious themes into context of grieving and honoring the dead, uplifting both the memorialized and the music.
As for this performance, somehow the sound sounded better than usual, the Philadelphia Singers seemed at their best, and despite some early relestness, the audience was particularly well-behaved. It was nice that the piece was performed straight through without intermission, because the flow and progression added to the enjoyment. Tenor solist Paul Groveswas enchanting. The “Tuba mirum,” portraying the Day of Judgment, was performed with the brass sound literally enciricling the audience and it was clear it gave everyone present pleasure and captured the essence of the intention of the composer.
This was a special night, because music choice, sound quality and general focus seemed to be off a lot this season; I cannot put my finger on it, but it seemed overall this season’s concerts were as a whole weaker than previous years. Naturally I speak only as layperson who enjoys the music, but I hope for the Orchestra’s sake and for my own enjoyment that they are able to make a decision on a permanent artistic director who will help give the Philadelphia Orchestra a consistency and point of view they are currently lacking. Tonight, though, the Orchestra left me looking forward to next year.