Bach's Mass in B minor

A regular feature of the Fringe programme, Ludus Baroque's performance of this Bach masterpiece was by and large convincing - the orchestra providing fabulous support, even if the trumpets were sometimes allowed to dominate the sound - but, as ever with concerts in the Canongate Kirk, suffered from the acoustic. The homophonic choruses and small scale arias were spared, unlike those numbers in which the counterpoint got lost somewhere in the ether.

Only in the Sanctus was every note to be heard: it can be no coincidence that the best of the evening's soloists all took part here. In the solo numbers, Lucy Ballard's Ferrieresque richness of tone contrasted well with Malcolm Bennett's and Libby Crabtree's pleasing lack of vibrato, while Matthew Brook's legato in the Et in Spiritum Sanctum was an undoubted highlight.

Another cautious recommendation.

This concert is repeated tomorrow, Saturday 12th August, at 7:30pm at the Canongate Kirk. Phone the Festival Fringe box office (0131 226 0000) for details.

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