My old high school chorus teacher hoped I would become a show singer someday...alas other priorities...think Gordon McCrae (Oh what a beautiful mornin’...oh what a beautiful day) and that is my range though I can handle all the Messiah bass parts(when I’m fortunate enough to be a part of a choir that’s singing it during the Christmas or Easter seasons). When I’m warmed up and singing in a small group I can manage a decent sotto voce and squelch the vibrato when I need to.
Legato, legato... May God keep you connected and smoothly flowing in his Spirit, American Mother!
Our choirmaster likes to hit the 'sweet spot' between the absolutely straight "Anglican tone" and too much vibrato.
He says it should be used for emphasis only and not as a matter of course.
You just missed our "Messiah". We sang quite a bit of it at my daughter's wedding too. We also sing the Purcell "Rejoice in the Lord" a/k/a the Bell Anthem, which is fun for bass/baritone. They have some really good bits.
The Bell Anthem as sung by Alfred Deller (one of the first modern countertenors) and the Deller Consort, long, long ago! (I remember this recording from my youth in the 1960s!) - I also remember Gordon MacRae - our usual Sunday musical program was Bach before church and musical comedy afterwards.
Of course, we don't have a viol consort which is the way it's supposed to be performed. But so it goes (I don't imagine there are 3 viol players in the entire city).