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Czech Boys Choir Boni Pueri proud of its own performer of Christ

Steenwijk, Grote of St. Clemenskerk, Saturday April 12th 2003. Matthew Passion, performed by Czech Boys Choir Boni Pueri, conducted by Pavel Horák, baroque-ensemble Musica Florea, soloists: Jaroslav Březina (tenor), Marian Krejčik (bariton), Lydia Vierlinger (alto), Noemi Kiss (soprano), Pavel Klečka (bass). Audience: 400.

In a different complement but certainly not less in the impressive interpretation the Czech boyschoir Boni Pueri presented again the Matthäus Passion in Steenwijk. With some pride the bariton Marian Krejčik was introduced as the performer of the Christ-part. He emanated from the boyschoir that in the appropiate double compliment sang Bach’s famous chorals. The young Krejčik with his warm voice and artistic charimsa turned out to fit perfectly in the role of the loving Jesus whose “Stations of the Cross” became inevitable.

A stand-in was the Austrian alto Lydia Vierlinger. In spite of her being ill and stuffed with antibiotics she sang her part with a warm voice in a moving presentation. A wonderful “Buss und Reu” and a touching “So nehmt mein Herz hinein”. Although these parts are often sung by a counter-tenor, Vierlinger soon made up for this “ little lack of authenticity”.

Soprano Noemi Kiss has got a clear, sometimes slightly loud sounding voice but with an unexpected sparkle as well. Her “Aus Liebe wird mein Heiland sterben” was very impressive. Wonderful was both their interpretation of Bach’s beautiful portrayal “So ist mein Jesus nun gefangen” with the “lightning and thunder” sung by the choir in return.

Tenor Jaroslav Březina expressed in a wonderful way the lines of the narrator, the Evangelist. A beautiful voice, but in particular a lot of delivery in this so moving story of Good Friday. Bass Pavel Klečka handles his parts sometimes a little too calmly but in the aria around Jesus’ funeral “Mache dich mein Herze rein” his deperate modesty suited very well.

The youthful baroque-ensemble Musica Florea from Prague took care of an attentive support of the singing and also contributed very beautiful sololy with the violins, oboes and a viola da gamba. The flutes played not always in tune but the warmth made up for that.

And then, last but not least, from Hradec Králové: the Czech Boyschoir Boni Pueri, that fits so very well in Bach’s Matthäus. Thanks to the contacts with Steenwijk’s own Mister Culture, Jan Toor, the small city in Overijssel is called at again during this Hollandtour. In this time of large-scale musicals it is admirable that Pavel Horák is still able to win the youth over this big classical work from Bach.

Music just for listening to: it is still possible these days. Moving is the seriousness the boys are singing with. Clever the way the intonation has been put in and this young voice material has been shaped into this wonderful choirsinging.

A future like Marian Krejčik’s is not in store for everybody but the looe for classical singing will certainly stay. A good thing, for how could Bach’s epos be enjoyed otherwise during the annual Passion Weeks?

Riet de Wild (Opregte Steenwijker Courant) (12. 4. 2003)