The San Francisco Symphony's "Messiah" tonight showcased the local debut
of a very young German baritone with an authentic "Handel sound," but also
a promise of any and all Verdi roles in the years to come.  Many years,
apparently, because this veteran of the Dresden Boys' Chorus doesn't appear
to have hit 30 yet.

Stephan Loges' warm, bright, full, broad, well-focused voice has an
unusual quality of being natural, "sincere," rather than artsy, singerly
the way a majority of young opera and oratorio singers are.  There is a
downside to that as some of the trickier transitions are less than perfect,
but technique can always be improved.  What Loges has cannot be acquired:
a wonderful voice and the spirit of joyful singing

Loges was in fine company in Davies Hall: from Canada, the consistently
excellent soprano Dominique Labelle and tenor Benjamin Butterfield (with
the same spirit and gusto as Loges), and the powerful-strange Paula
Rasmussen.

The California mezzo startles the audience each time she begins singing -
there is a built-in amplifier in her throat, a voice with a physical
impact.  Then, just as invariably, she falls behind.  in tempo, in balance,
in presence.  Strange is the only way to describe this lagging behind, so
consistent (and troubling) it is.  Tonight, her situation was made worse
by Paul McCreesh's amazing arrangement to place the singers well behind his
back so that they wouldn't be bothered by the conductor.  The other singers
managed, but Rasmussen needs a strong and steady hand, preferably right in
front of her.

Otherwise, McCreesh - of Britain's Gabrieli Consort & Players - did a
remarkable job with the old chestnut, conducting a vital, "different"
interpretation, but not departing from the true Handelian path.  McCreesh
maintained a brisk, dramatic reading (opening the work with a touch of
near-Mahler), and stayed clear from the pathos in which this work is often
bathed - and sacrificing some of the more climactic points in the bargain:
his Messiah shall be called wonderful, not WONderful.  fair enough.

A disappointment: Vance George's always-superb Symphony Chorus tonight
wasn't.  Good, yes, superb, no. The chorus was simply not part of the
dynamic, passionate performance uniting McCreesh, the orchestra, and the
soloists; rather, they sang their way through it, however well, but well
short of thrilling.

Janos Gereben/SF, CA
[log in to unmask]