Washington Men's Camerata

Two decades ago, a few alumni of the Cornell and Harvard glee clubs decided there weren't enough men's choruses in the nation's capital. Eager to sing, they joined forces, forming what would become the Washington Men's Camerata.. On Sunday evening, the Camerata celebrated its 20th anniversary at the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater with a solid performance full of musical vitality and a healthy dose of fun.

Clearly, the 70 members of the Camerata love to sing.

And they sing with polished musicality, crystalline diction and tender tonal warmth under Frank Albinder, the group's music director of five years. With associate conductor Michael Patterson at the piano, the Camerata performed a cross-section of its vast repertoire, each piece representing one of its past seasons. The selections included works by Faure, Janacek and Poulenc, to name but a few.

Even if you haven't heard of Franz Biebl, chances are you have heard his "Ave Maria," an a cappella work ubiquitous in the male chorus canon. To cast new light on the familiar favorite, Albinder placed a chorus of nine singers behind the audience. That simple move created a stirring and haunting surround-sound experience -- and one of the evening's best performances.

The Camerata concluded the performance with a vibrant trio of drinking songs: "What Shall We Do With the Drunken Sailor?," Schubert's "Trinklied" and Carl Orff's "In Taberna" from "Carmina Burana" -- a fitting way to kick off the Camerata's post-concert celebration.

© 2004 The Washington Post Company