Classical music review: Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir

Published on Tuesday 12 August 2008 02:00

ESTONIAN PHILHARMONIC CHAMBER CHOIR ***** USHER HALL

THE Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, conducted by Paul Hillier, are an exceptionally well-drilled and versatile ensemble, as they demonstrated in this diverse programme of Baltic choral works.

Arvo Part is Estonia's most distinguished composer, instantly recognisable for his pure "tintinnabuli" style of vocal writing. His Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis are sparsely written yet deeply mesmeric works that make time stand still and were sung exquisitely.

A more traditional style of choral music featured in Veljo Tormis's folk-like Jaanilaulud (St John's Day Songs) and Sibelius's lyrical Rakastava (The Lover).

Of the new generation of Estonian composers, Toivo Tulev is a compelling voice in terms of his use of modern vocal techniques. Summer Rain, a curious mix of English and Latin, could have provided the soundtrack for an expensive car advert, whilst Rejoice, Rejoice, Rejoice! put the choir's vocal skills to the test with adventurous harmonics and impossibly high soprano notes.

In Lapponia,the Finnish composer Erik Bergman evokes the bleakness and extremes of the Lapland landscape using no words, just a tantalising and colourful range of atavistic and guttural sounds to conjure up moaning winds, the Northern Lights and the primordial song of the Lapps, the yoik.