Figure – St John Passion , Cloth Fair, Barbican, EC1A 7JQ
Figure inaugural concert, St John Passion, Sept 2021 – courtesy Oliver Bowring and Musicarta Media 3.
Could St Bartholomew be a more perfect setting, for this most majestic of works? Beautifully lit stone pillars with Norman and post reformation architecture to delight the eye, and a rendition of St John Passion to delight the ear.
Figure are a newly established historical performance ensemble based in London, bringing music of the past to life, through the modern understanding of the instruments, in their new home at St Bartholomew the Great.
Seeing so many musicians and singers together, served to remind, just how much we had missed live music during the various Covid lockdowns.
Sitting in such surroundings it was easy to get lost in the glories of Johann Sebastian Bach’s St John Passion, but the instruments intrigue, not least the Theorbo and the wooded flutes.
Figure is a youthful ensemble, but no less accomplished for that, with many having played at the Proms, Wigmore and Festival Halls and Glyndebourne, and one could not doubt their passion and ability as they brought the piece to life.
It would be quite wrong to pick out any of the principals, as they were each wonderful both in voice and facial expression, but Claire Lees who stood in at the last minute, sang with such aplomb it would be remiss not to mention her. Similarly, Frederik Waxman, who conducted with a lightness that belied his authority.
The melody ricocheted off the stonework filling the space with an ecstasy, this was music to be feasted upon and feast we did. I freely confess to having actual goosebumps, such was the quality of the music and singing.
I am thrilled to be able to tell you that the second concert by Figure will be Mozart’s Serenade No 10 for Winds ‘Grand Partita.’ on Friday 19th November 2021 at 7. 30pm with a running time of 1 hour. Tickets are priced £15 (£10 concessions) and can be purchased at www.figureensemble.co.uk
To possess such talent so young, to play with such maturity and with a long career stretching ahead of them can only bode well for us music lovers.
Bravo.