We all know what a crack chorus the Providence Singers has become. But what about its partner for the week, the New Bedford Symphony, something of an unknown commodity in the Providence area?

The two groups are teaming up for performances of Beethoven's monumental and heartfelt "Missa Solemnis," a sort of sacred companion to the more profane Ninth Symphony, which the Singers performed last May with the Rhode Island Philharmonic. Singers and instrumentalists gave a stirring performance of the "Mass" Sunday afternoon in New Bedford, and will repeat it Sunday afternoon, Oct. 24, at Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Providence.

So how did the New Bedford Symphony sound? Not half bad. In fact, pretty decent, boasting solid intonation and well blended voicing. And of course the Singers were in top form, which you sort of have to be for the "Missa," where the composer asks the sopranos to stretch into the upper registers and stay there.

Conductor David MacKenzie said before the start of the performance that he was surprised this late masterpiece is not performed more. But then he conceded that it's "hard," and an "immense" work that takes about 75 minutes to play.

It's a little hard to predict what Sunday's concert at VMA will sound like, largely because of the difference in acoustics. The New Bedford performance took place in St. Anthony of Padua Church, a vast space with a couple of seconds die-away. That tended to take the edge off much of the playing (and maybe hide a few minor sins) where crispness and textures are sought. The "Et vitam venturi" fugue, which should tiptoe in on clearly articulated notes, seemed a little flat in that environment.

But then MacKenzie is no killer conductor. The syncopations in the "Gloria" should hit you like a kick in the gut. But not in MacKenzie's hands. They were more polite. In other words, there was still room to push the players.

But overall, this was a moving concert, one fans of choral music and Beethoven shouldn't miss.

Concertmaster Jesse Holstein deserves a hand for his sweet, soaring violin solo in the heavenly "Benedictus," and Armenian tenor Yeghishe Manucharyan stood out in a fine vocal quartet, showing off his clear, compact sound. Rounding out the quartet were baritone James Kleyla, who was warm and confident in the opening of the "Agnus Dei," mezzo Hillary Nicholson, and soprano Barbara Kilduff.

The Providence Singers and the New Bedford Symphony perform Beethoven's "Missa Solemnis" Sunday at 3 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Auditorium. Tickets are $22-$62 for adults, $12 for students. Call (401) 421-2787 or log on to www.vmari.org.