In principle I shouldn't write reviews of concerts that I have prepared myself for obvious reasons. I played for many of the choir rehearsals for these two religious works by romantic Czech composer Dvorak. I also conducted a number of the rehearsals, replacing choirmaster Damien Luy, although I usually ended up directing from the keyboard. The first concert on the first Saturday of February was given in the famous Fondation Gianadda in Martigny, better known for its amazing temporary art exhibitions. The second, which I attended, was given the following day in the one and only church in Le Châble. This is where the train line ends and you get the cable car to the resort of Verbier.

I believe that Dvorak, like Bach, Mozart and Mendelssohn, did not write a single wasted or wrong note. Somehow this renders the sound world of the Stabat Mater as being a bit too "perfect". I know it's almost sacrilege to write such a thing, but in some ways the listening experience becomes a bit "boring". Several non musicians expressed this viewpoint to me afterwards and, certainly, the energy of the New World symphony is not to be found here. In terms of compositional style the Stabat Mater is a much earlier work, written around the time of the death of Dvorak's children. The Te Deum dates from the late, American period of Dvorak and it is much more dynamic in expression, beginning with a timpani (kettledrums) solo and employing other percussion instruments. It is also a far shorter work, about 17 minutes, whereas the Stabat Mater lasts over an hour.

In terms of performance, the choir sound was homogeneous and the intonation excellent with reasonably good articulation of the Latin text. They were not helped by the tricky acoustic in the church, which did the soloists no service at all. In the lightly orchestrated solo airs they struggled to project over the sound of the orchestra, whose mid ranges (think bassoon, horn) were enhanced greatly. Churches are always challenging and I have done many performances in them myself. The strings had a slightly metallic sound to them but intonation was impeccable. The Symphonistes d'Octodure are a reduced band, with the forces cut down to that of a chamber orchestra. Despite a few missed trombone entries in the brass, the sound was warm and radiant. Altogether a great experience with a lot of fine music making.


The Dvorak Stabat Mater was performed in the Église du Châble, on the way to the ski resort Verbier


The acoustic was quite vibrant and it was difficult for the singers to project over the orchestra


One village, Isérables, is connected to the outer world with a road that leads through a series of tunnels and galleries - here, the tunnel has caved in and the road may be blocked for years


Meanwhile, down in Montreux, the skies were clear - not quite spring yet, but the winter is short in Montreux