Music Reviews : Brent Pierce Leads the Mormon Choir at Pavilion

The conductorship of the Southern California Mormon Choir tends to remain in the same hands for a while, but it does occasionally change hands. In September Brent Pierce took charge of the group, and Saturday he led the 110-voice ensemble through its 35th annual performance of Handel’s “Messiah” at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.

Pierce elicited a big, vibrant sound, at the same time achieving proper balances, linear clarity and rhythmic accuracy. He did sometimes go for the obvious effects--crescendos on final chords, for example--but generally he showed a flair for style and a concern for the work’s dramatic structure.

The four soloists took varying--actually contradictory--approaches to the oratorio. At one extreme was tenor Carroll Freeman, who delivered his lines venomously, swelling on long notes until the final, hammered-out consonant. His voice generously filled the hall, covering up, in fact, the entire tenor section when the soloists joined the choristers for the final “Amen” of “Worthy Is the Lamb.”

At the other extreme was Marvellee Cariaga, who, apparently suffering from an incipient laryngeal indisposition (having coughed a couple of times before singing) produced a rather meek sound and encountered noticeable difficulty changing registers, but nonetheless brought stylish phrasing and textual clarity to her singing.

Bass Peter Van Derick, however, exhibited the best of both singers--communicativeness, refinement, intensity and warmth of tone. Soprano Young Mi Kim, too, delivered a glowing, radiant sound and aside from some minor intonation difficulties, sang with energy and polish.

The orchestra provided reliable support throughout.