Dave Richards, Toronto Concert Reviews

… the story of Belshazzar’s Feast tells the Biblical story of the downfall of the tyrannical Belshazzar and the freeing of the Jews from slavery in Babylon. The work remains a cornerstone of twentieth century choral orchestral repertoire.

Andrew Davis found the emotional core of this musical drama. The combined forces of the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir and the Huddersfield Choral Society from Leeds, England rocked the house with a tremendously powerful choral sound. Their hushed voices were heart-wrenching as they sang about the humiliation of the Jewish slaves. The large orchestra required for this work included organ, piano, two harps and a myriad of percussion instruments. Davis ensured that the music’s energy had real bite. British-Canadian baritone Alexander Dobson was superb as he sang his ‘a cappella’ recitatives with authority and dramatic fervour.

Read the review of the full concert here.