New Liszt Ferenc Chamber Choir, Jean-Sébastien Vallée

Once again, a conductor of international repute arrives for the concert by the 10-year-old New Liszt Ferenc Chamber Choir at which we receive a sample of classics and new material from choral literature. Canadian-American Jean-Sébastien Vallée is professor at the McGill University of Montreal, music director of the Ottawa Choral Society, and his guest appearance is a guarantee from several aspects of an invigorating and enlightening experience. On the one hand, he brings new colours and a different approach into the life of the ensemble led by László Norbert Nemes, and on the other hand the repertoire will come as a breath of fresh air for concertgoers. After a Renaissance and a 20th century French composer’s composition (Vallée is a specialist of French choral music), Bach’s beautiful motet for double choir sounds, while the second half is reserved for brilliant works by principally contemporary American authors. There is no doubt the selection is exciting and diverse: the wide mood range runs from Whitacre’s witty, virtuoso composition to Dominick DiOrio’s choral song inspired by a powerful poem of bereavement.