Hence my exasperation here - Vox does not have the means to extend its reach to where it would benefit most. Nevertheless, Vox's efforts have paid off and I am left without doubt that Vox Ensemble intends to be taken seriously, and professionally. The Three Motets by Charles Villiers Stanford, Cantate Domino by Claudio Monteverdi and the Agnus Dei by Samuel Barber suffered slightly from minor pacing problems and a direction that does not sufficiently capitalize the inherent prowess of the chosen music. It is a first-class piece of work. Vox did not do enough to transmit the suspended magnetism of those chords.
Greater imagination is required here.
The smaller ensembles performing the Ave Maria by Anton Bruckner and Cuc , cuc were less secure vocally. The baritone soloist in Longer was somehow drowned by enthusiastic singing from the basses - at least from where I was sitting. High notes were pitched with an unscholarly gliss and further, his Italian vowels needs correction. Comparatively, Chia Wei Khuan was technically more secure, though the lack of practice and perhaps age marred his beautiful lyric sound. Vox should be commended for its intelligent programming.