Performing Arts

From apocalyptic blasts of chorus, brass and percussion to all but inaudible high violin tremolos, the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center was the scene of a sonic extravaganza Thursday night. In his last program here before taking over as the Dallas Symphony Orchestra's music director, in September, Jaap van Zweden whipped up every possible bit of drama in Verdi's Requiem, at the same time imposing intense discipline.

MATT NAGER/Special Contributor

Incoming DSO conductor Jaap van Zweden led the orchestra in a riveting performance of Verdi's Requiem on Thursday night.

Mr. van Zweden milked the score's crunches and drives of tension, deftly timing hesitations before pivotal downbeats. On scales both great and small, he paced the music with strategic authority. Even those super-pianissimos made the hair stand on end.

The DSO played as if transfixed, trumpets and trombones producing thrilling dins and percussionist Douglas Howard whomping the big bass drum within a micron of its own requiem. On quite another plane, the violins played now with blazing virtuosity, now with sweet near-nothingness.

But the star of the show was the Dallas Symphony Chorus, prepared by David R. Davidson. I've often found this group too covered in tone and inadequately supported, but there wasn't a bit of that Thursday. From mere whisper to full-throated roar, the sound was solid, focused and well-projected, with impressively clear diction.

The soloists were a mixed bag. Christine Brewer sang gorgeously, but hers is a soprano more creamily Straussian than spicily Verdian; this of all scores wants more garlic and cayenne. Mezzo Jill Grove did her job without quite stirring the blood.

Stuart Neil produced the biggest-beef sounds I can remember hearing from a tenor, but also exquisite hushed croons. Unfortunately, there wasn't much in between, and in ensembles he was often louder than the other singers. Bass Raymond Aceto supplied some imposing sounds, but little in the way of line or elegance, and his intonation was uncertain.

Tuning in solo-ensemble passages repeatedly went adrift. The unaccompanied "Pie Jesu" was excruciating, each of the four singers apparently in a different tuning system. Ouch.

PLAN YOUR LIFE Repeats at 7:30 tonight (note early hour) and 8 p.m. Saturday at the Meyerson Symphony Center, 2301 Flora. $29 to $110. 214-692-0203, www.dallassymphony.com.

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