Many may be surprised to hear that Paul McCartney, the ex-Beatles member, has in addition to pop music also composed classical music. The Juvenalia Choir, Oratoriokören (Oratorio Choir) and Helsinki Metropolitan Orchestra and their soloist Mari Palo performed his oratorio “Ecce Cor Meum” in Kattilahalli in Suvilahti. I had never been to Kattilahalli before, so that alone was interesting. The venue is definitely big enough for such performances, but the pillars of the hall did act as obstacles if you wanted to see everything wherever you sat. The acoustics was good at least in the front rows, but before the concert I heard a few knowledgeable sounding people mention that the experience is not as good behind the first rows. Who knows!
The first
version of the oratorio was performed in 2001, but after that McCartney
expanded it and it got its final form in 2006. The piece consists of five parts
(Spiritus, Gratia, Interlude, Musica and Ecce Cor Meum).
You can
hear McCartney’s background in the composition and personally I wasn’t that
impressed by his music. It wasn’t bad as such, but neither was it very memorable
or touching. The choirs and the orchestra did well lead by the conductor Sasha
Mäkelä and I also liked the lights by Jan-Erik Pihström that were reflected on
the wall behind the choirs. The soloist Mari Palo sang beautifully, when you
were able to discern her voice. She was often signing together with the choirs
and then at least I wasn’t able to hear her. But at least I can say that now I
have heard this oratorio by McCartney!
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