The Apostles Edward
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C X A X H A C H P R P R I I S S T T I I C E C E H L H L O R A O R A • A X C H P R I S T I • C H E O R A L X X C A C H A H P R P R I I S S T T I I C E C E H L H L O R A O R A • A X C H P R I S Stephanie Martin April 29, 2017, 7:30 p.m. T I Artistic Director April 30, 2017, 3:00 p.m. • C H E O R A L Edward The Apostles Elgar Pax Christi Chorale and Orchestra with Meredith Hall, Krisztina Szabó, Brett Polegato, Lawrence Wiliford, Daniel Lichti, Michael Uloth, and the Etobicoke School of the Arts Chamber Choir Edward The Apostles Elgar Pax Christi Chorale and Orchestra Stephanie Martin, Artistic Director PART 1 1. The Calling of the Apostles 2. By the Wayside 3. By the Sea of Galilee INTERMISSION PART 2 4. The Betrayal 5. Golgotha 6. At the Sepulchre Please join us in the Parish Hall after today’s 7. The Ascension concert for a reception. Elgar’s oratorio tells a profoundly human story, recounting Christ’s teaching, crucifixion and resurrection through the eyes of his disciples — ordinary men who would lay the foundation of the Christian church. The Apostles was first performed in Birmingham in October 1903. BY STEPHEN JOHNSON MUSIC WRITER, BROADCASTER, AND COMPOSER Synopsis Edward Elgar PART ONE recitative sets up the opposition of Part One of the oratorio begins at the authorities to Jesus’ preaching. night. After we hear from the Angel Judas Iscariot shows his hand as Gabriel (the voice of Thy watchman), being willing to betray Him, receiving ‘The Dawn’ begins with the sound his thirty pieces of silver in return. of a distant shofar (a ram’s horn). A Quick scene changes take us first to chorus of watchers from the temple the Garden of Gethsemane where roof is followed by a chorus within Jesus is captured, then to the Palace the temple, singing a psalm. Much of of the High Priest where Peter the music for this section is based denies Jesus. Here the chorus adds on Hebrew melodies. The scene a beautiful comment. (“And the Lord ends with the calling of the Apostles turned and looked upon Peter and and their responses. he went out and wept bitterly.”) ‘By the Wayside’ consists of Jesus’ Next we’re in the Temple where famous blessings known as The Judas sings of his remorse. The next Beatitudes, and to each the Apostles scene, in Golgotha, describes the and the Virgin Mary respond. In ‘By crucifixion itself, though only briefly. the Sea of Galilee’ we meet Mary Unusually, it’s the orchestra which Magdalene in a dramatic monologue. describes Jesus’ final words and the The chorus sings of her earlier life only vocal writing is a short dialogue and she then describes seeing a between Mary and John. storm and Jesus’ stilling of the sea. Now there’s a complete change of Next we hear the story of Jesus Please join us in the mood. ‘At the Sepulchre’ begins declaring the Apostle Simon to Parish Hall after today’s with music that describes the be Peter, the rock on which the concert for a reception. early morning. The watchers on church will be built. Part One ends the temple roof are heard again with Mary Magdalene’s sins being and soon we hear the voices of forgiven by Jesus, and a solo quar- angels. (“Alleluia! Why seek ye the tet and chorus end the section in a living among the dead?”) The ora- mood of confidence. torio closes with ‘The Ascension.’ The risen Christ appears to the PART TWO Apostles and the choral sound is The mood is very different at the dominated by female voices. At the opening of Part Two. A solemn end of the work soloists, choruses, orchestral prelude leads to the orchestra and organ unite in a scene of Christ’s betrayal. A choral mighty Alleluia. Our Artists Winter Nights with the Grand Philharmonic of Kitchener-Waterloo; The Portinari Nativity commissioned by Ex Cathedra, UK; three choral works for Christ Church Cathedral, Victoria B.C.; a string quartet, From STEPHANIE MARTIN, a distant island; and works per- ARTISTIC DIRECTOR formed by Voces Capituli, Antwerp; Since becoming artistic director St. John’s Cathedral, Albuquerque; of Pax Christi Chorale in 1996, and Ely Cathedral, UK. Her newest Stephanie has conducted the core work, a complete setting of the of the oratorio repertoire, as well Mass in Latin, premieres at St. John as introducing Toronto audiences Cantius, Chicago, on June 4th, 2017. to unknown masterworks. Today's After a sabbatical year, Stephanie Canadian premiere of Edward will return to York University’s Elgar's The Apostles is the last in a School of the Arts, Media, line of such powerful pieces, includ- Performance and Design to teach ing Hubert Parry's Judith, Hector history, composition, harpsichord, Berlioz's L'Enfance du Christ and organ and ensembles. Stephanie Elgar's The Kingdom, The Dream of continues to lead the women’s Gerontius and The Music Makers. ensemble Schola Magdalena, Stephanie departs Pax Christi after ensemble-in-residence at the serving for 20 seasons to focus on historic Church of Saint Mary composition. Her choral symphony, Magdalene in Toronto, following in BABEL, premiered at Wilfrid Laurier the choral lineage of Healey Willan. University in April 2016. Other Keep in touch through her website: performances include her cantata stephaniemartinmusic.com. large and chamber ensembles to perform both scripted and improvi- satory compositions. He has also coached musicians across numerous instruments in interpretation and performance. Mr. Norman performs DANIEL NORMAN, regularly as an organ soloist and ASSOCIATE CONDUCTOR enjoys featuring works of varying Sought after for his musical sensitiv- time periods and dialects. He has ity and versatility, Daniel Norman has an undergraduate degree in Music been an active conductor, keyboard- Composition from the University ist and collaborative artist for over of Western Ontario and a graduate a decade. He has directed an array degree in Performance from the of choirs, orchestras and chamber University of Toronto. In addition ensembles in North America and to his work as a freelance artist, Mr. Europe, performing in a range of Norman currently holds directorships genres including classical, operetta with Church of the Redeemer and and musical theatre. Through his the Convent of St. John the Divine, career Daniel has collaborated with and for the past two years has con- dance, visual and musical artists in ducted the Hart House Chorus. MEREDITH HALL, SOPRANO KRISZTINA SZABÓ, MEZZO-SOPRANO Meredith Hall delights audiences with Hungarian-Canadian Krisztina Szabó her “lustrous sound and fluent legato” exemplifies today’s modern singer: (San Francisco Chronicle) and “bra- she is vocally versatile, possesses vura musical performance matched by excellent stage prowess, and paints riveting drama” (Boston Globe). Since vivid character portraits. She sings 1995, she has performed in opera and frequently with the Canadian Opera oratorio throughout North America, Company, has been the recipient of Europe and Japan. An acclaimed inter- the Emerging Artist grant from the preter of art and folk songs, Meredith Canada Council, and was honoured topped the classical billboard charts by her hometown of Mississauga with in 2014 with SACRUM MYSTERIUM, a star on the Music Walk of Fame in a Celtic-inspired collaboration with its inaugural year. Ms Szabó’s per- Apollo's Fire Baroque Orchestra. She formances with Pax Christi Chorale performed Mendelssohn’s St. Paul include Elgar’s The Kingdom in 2012, with Pax Christi Chorale in 2006. and next season’s opening concert. and sincerity of his interpretations. Mr. Lichti, Associate Professor of Voice for the Faculty of Music at Wilfrid Laurier University, is fre- quently invited to teach and conduct LAWRENCE WILIFORD, TENOR master classes internationally. Lauded for his luminous projection, lyrical sensitivity, and brilliant col- oratura, American-Canadian tenor Lawrence Wiliford is in high demand in concert, opera, and recital rep- ertoire. His concert engagements BRETT POLEGATO, BARITONE encompass the major symphony orchestras and early music groups in Brett Polegato's artistic sensibility has the U.S. and Canada. Mr. Wiliford is earned him the highest accolades from co-artistic director of the Canadian audiences and critics. “His is a serious Art Song Project. While a student and seductive voice” says The Globe at St. Olaf College in Northfield, and Mail, and The New York Times has Minnesota, he sang with the St. Olaf praised his “burnished, well-focused Choir, became a published choral voice.” Equally at ease on the concert arranger, and was one of the found- and recital stages, Mr. Polegato made ing members of the male vocal his Carnegie Hall recital debut at Weill chamber ensemble Cantus. Recital Hall in May 2003. He finished first among the men at the 1995 Cardiff Singer of the World Competition. Mr. Polegato will join Pax Christi Chorale in next season’s opening concert. DANIEL LICHTI, BASS-BARITONE Since his operatic debut at the 1974 Stratford Festival, Daniel Lichti has established himself as one of MICHAEL ULOTH, BASS Canada’s finest bass-baritones. In 2014–15, he celebrated 40 years of Michael is a graduate of the singing for audiences around the Canadian Opera Company world, and ongoing critical com- Ensemble Studio, the Seattle Opera mentary indicates that his artistry Young Artists Program, and the continues to inspire admiration for Glimmerglass Opera Young Artists the beauty, warmth and richness of Program.