The great joy of hearing this work in the Royal Festival Hall was not only the stunning impact it made but the detail I was - for once - able to hear of the vital organ part. Mahler does not simply add in an organ for a hit of extra colour in his vast orchestration, he expects the organist to be a viable soloist alongside all of the other voices.
Roderick Elms was completely at one with the task, making subtle alterations to the registration as lie proceeded rather than simply having them all set before hand. In this way he was able to respond to David Temple's deft handling of the score.
With so many musicians on stage - it is not called the Symphony of a Thousand for nothing - detail could easily be lost but it was a tribute to the conductor that so often telling detail spun out with effortless ease, ranging as it did from the majesty of the massed opening to the subtle use of harmonium rather than organ in the vision of the Mater Gloriosa.
Singing was of an
equally high standard with superb contributions from Julia Batchelor and Kathryn Turpin. The Crouch End Festival Chorus
will be in Birmingham for Bach's Mass in B Minor on 13 April. Given their present standing this will be a performance not to be missed.
