Paul McCreesh/Reginald Mobley & The OSL

~ Author: Oberon

Tuesday June 2nd, 2026 – The Orchestra of St. Luke’s opened their annual Bach Festival at Zankel Hall with Maestro Paul McCreesh (above) making his OSL debut with a Bach/Mozart program. Countertenor Reginald Mobley joined the orchestra for Bach’s beloved “Vergnügte Ruh“.

A glace at Maestro McCreesh’s extraordinary resumé assured us of an impressive evening of music-making.

The concert began with the Sinfonia from Bach’s Cantata No. 42;  from its breezy, charming opening measures, this brief piece made a perfect start to the evening. The OSL players were in fine fettle, lovely passages from bassoon and oboe were especially delightful.

Mr. Mobley (above) then took the stage for Bach’s  Vergnügte Ruh’, beliebte Seelenlust (‘Delightful repose, cherished pleasure of the soul’) which was first performed on July 28, 1726. The orchestra’s deft playing of the familiar opening measures had a reassuring grace about it, and then the sweet, lyrical flow of the Mobley voice emerged. Mingling his intriguing sound with that of the oboe, the singer drew us in, whilst the organ creates a church-like atmosphere.

A wordy, dramatic recitative precedes the second aria, wherein a bare-bones instrumentation highlights Mr. Mobley’s coloratura passages; his straight-tone notes create a feeling of time standing still. Another recitative, cushioned by the strings, leads to the final aria, its bravura passages interwoven with organist Robert Wolinsky’s attentive playing.

The audience’s warm response to Mr. Mobley’s entrancing singing led to a rather long encore, giving us more time to savour this charismatic singer’s artistry.

Following a long interval, Mozart’s Adagio and Fugue in C-minor, K 546 provided a chance to savor the orchestra’s remarkable bass player, John Feeney. The music, rather dolorous and dramatic, shifts gears for the fugue, wherein Mr. Feeney and cellist Myron Lutzke have much to do…and they did it with aplomb.     

The concert concluded with Mozart’s Symphony #25 in G-Minor, K. 183. This music features unison themes that are richly played, insistent rhythms, and ample opportunities for oboe, bassoon, and horn. This was Mozart’s first tragic symphony, composed when he was only 17. It is a prime example of the Sturm und Drang (Storm and Stress) style, famous for its unusual rhythms, emotional extremes, and gloomy shadows. Under Mr. McCreesh’s inspired leadership, the OSL players brought the evening to a pleasingly powerful end.

~ Oberon