MUSIC REVIEW : Coast Debut for Rutter’s ‘Magnificat’

Christmas concert season has begun, which means it’s time, in most quarters, for Handel’s “Messiah.” But William Hall and the Master Chorale of Orange County decided on a different route for their holiday program, performed in Segerstrom Hall at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, Saturday night.

It’s a decision that has its risks, not the least of which is that most Christmas choral music pales in comparison to Handel’s masterpiece. Most of what the Master Chorale performed Saturday did so--including and especially the evening’s main event, the “Magnificat” by English composer John Rutter, in its reported West Coast premiere.

The piece is a virtual encyclopedia of musical cliches, a long-winded, tamely tonal, predictable exercise in glitzy populism. In it, Rutter makes plentiful use of composers past and present, from Copland to Vaughan Williams, from Stravinsky to John Williams. He starts right off in the first movement (out of seven) by crossing Carl Orff with the Marlboro theme.

To this kind of drivingly rhythmic, choral heftiness he adds plenty of contrast, in the form of gushingly sentimental pop ballads. The Latin text, given the context, sounds ridiculous throughout, but especially here.

Mezzo-soprano Deborah Winsor-Williams sang the ballads with simple point and generous tone, despite occasional strain. The choir, as throughout the evening, sang with massive gusto, astute balance and precise ensemble. It was never in danger of being overpowered by the considerable orchestral contribution, played energetically by the so-called Master Chorale Orchestra.

Elsewhere the program consisted mostly of slick arrangements of carols: There were more medleys than in a Sammy Davis Jr. act, more modulations than on a dozen Barry Manilow albums.

The Costa Mesa Children’s Chorus made its debut performance, singing solidly in antiphony with the chorale in “While by My Sheep.” The Californians, a small group of women singers, made a campy appearance, singing, among other things, “Mr. Santa” to the tune of an Andrews-Sisters style “Mr. Sandman.”

The high points of the evening: Daniel Pinkham’s Renaissance-tinged “Gloria,” and two refreshingly simple, a cappella arrangements of carols by Hall. Good music is the best way to celebrate Christmas.