ABS performs Lotti and Bach

* Notes *
The final concert series this season of American Bach Soloists included works by Antonio Lotti (pictured left) and Johann Sebastian Bach. Last Sunday's San Francisco performance began with Lotti's Mass for Three Choirs. The ensemble, conducted by Jeffrey Thomas, sounded characteristically clear and clean. Concertmaster Elizabeth Blumenstock was particularly splendid in her solo during "Domine Deus, Rex coelestis, Deus Pater omnipotens." The singers were fine also though perhaps not very striking. The only real fault was that the alto blended a little too well with the violas during her aria, "Qui sedes ad dextram Patris, miserere nobis." The second half of the evening consisted of Bach's beautiful Magnificat. Again, this work was played and sung with an efficient dryness. It was all lovely and nearly impeccable.

* Tattling *
Herr Feldheim was kind enough to take me to this performance, and we were seated right next to Dr. Murray Forbes Somerville, who lead Harvard University Choir in the world premiere of the Lotti piece about 15 years ago. It was nice to run into SFMike and various others at the concert.