A trip to the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis is always a memorable experience. the beauty of architecture, mosaics and much colorful ecclesiastical art never ceases to amaze and delight the visual senses. Add to that the intrigue of extended surround sound and you have both a challenge and an ethereal experience.
The Suspicious Cheese Lords, a young acapella ensemble of 13 men from Washington, DC brought to St. Louis an evening of almost totally unknown choral literature. While historically this music is noteworthy and very beautiful, its sameness made one occasionally wish for more contrast of style and harmonic content. However, one never tires of hearing splendid unison chant when it is well sung, which the ensemble did with great success. The three new compositions by members of the ensemble were greatly welcomed, and they displayed considerable harmonic inventiveness.
St. Louis Cathedral Concerts has both educated and spoiled its listeners by bringing to us a great variety of first class choral ensembles, i.e. Chanticleer, The Tallis Scholars, etc., and with that most enjoyable exposure we have become much more discriminating as concert goers. While the Suspicious Cheese Lords are an admirable ensemble, neither their singing, programing or stage rapport quite reached the sophistication or musical refinement to which we are accustom. On the other hand, all performing ensembles were once new. Hopefully we will have another opportunity to enjoy the music-making of this ambitious group in the future as they grow and cultivate their fine art. I do hope so!
