Music Reviews : I Cantori Stages ‘Ordo Virtutum’

Well known for its adventuresome repertory and catholicity of taste, I Cantori took on Hildegard of Bingen’s 12th-Century morality play, “Ordo Virtutum,” Sunday afternoon at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena.

Conjecture remains a significant part of any staging of Hildegard’s visionary drama and director Edward Cansino came up with some satisfactory and engaging answers for this one.

Particularly in Scene 2, with Anima embracing worldly pleasures while the Virtues sing their own praises, his staging seemed most effective: The action took place on two planes, Anima, the Embodied Souls and the Devil in slow-motion and silent revelry and debauchery below the raised and removed choir of Virtues.

Kerry Walsh gave the part of Anima (the Soul) dramatic substance with her stylized but expressive movements and unabashedly emotive singing, in a pure, dark soprano. As the Devil (a spoken role), Kenneth Knight pranced and proclaimed ominously.

The Virtues, a choir of eight, chanted angelically and with impressive ensemble unity.

The period costumes by Gina DiMassa, particularly Anima’s various fineries, delighted. James Truher led the capable band of medieval instrumentalists.