MUSIC REVIEW : HALL CHORALE SINGS AT AMBASSADOR

The William Hall Chorale sang with crystalline purity and focus Wednesday at Ambassador Auditorium, Pasadena, demonstrating that it is not only a premier classical ensemble but also a fine opera bouffe chorus, church choir, musical comedy group--or virtually any other kind of choral ensemble that conductor William Hall takes a mind to.

In fact, so extensive was the repertory sung by the 23-member chorale that less, probably, would have been more.

Four opening a-cappella works by Lvovsky, Victoria, Randall Thompson and Maurice Durufle quickly showed the chorale’s mastery of vibrant sound, weightless lines, carefully modulated dynamics and terraced harmonies.

Two performances stood out, however: Egil Hovland’s dramatic, challenging setting of the biblical account of the conversion of Saul, and Britten’s “Cantata misericordium,” a plaintive, fervent setting of the Good Samaritan parable. Bass Carson Church narrated the preacher’s lines in Hovland’s “Saul” with chilling effect. Bass Thomas Wilcox sang the part of Britten’s Traveler with powerful expression; tenor William Davis made an inspired Samaritan.

The first half should have ended there, with Britten’s charitable exhortation to “Go and Do Likewise” resounding within the hearts and minds of the audience. But Hall continued with a folk song, a spiritual and several musical jokes. The change proved jarring.

The second half was wholly devoted to one of those rapid surveys of the greatest hits of musical comedies and films that often pop up in choral concerts, perhaps to win a wider audience.

Hall projected slides from such popular movies as “My Fair Lady,” “Fiddler on the Roof” and “Showboat” onto two screens--a semi-transparent one in front of the singers and an opaque one behind them--while the chorale members, dressed in bright, casual outfits, went through a variety of song-and-dance paces from 10 musicals.

One rarely hears the songs sung with such touching effect, with such precise, expansive sound. But the set was already edging toward overkill long before the final slides of heroic faces, lofty mountains and the American flag planted on the moon.

Daniel Lockert provided spirited, expert piano accompaniment throughout.