For classical music lovers in Toronto, live performance choices have a tendency in direction of Messiah, Messiah, and extra Messiah, with maybe a sprinkling of Bach’s Christmas Oratorio. Apochryphonia and The Canadian Institute for Czech Music have teamed as much as deliver audiences one thing completely different — a Bohemian Vacation on November 30.
This system consists of music that was written within the Czech Republic through the seventeenth and 18th centuries. The composers in query will not be practically as acquainted to most North American classical music aficionados as Handel or Bach, making the live performance a beautiful alternative to find new favourites.
This system consists of main composers of the of the Czech Baroque, together with Jan Dismas Zelenka, Pavel Josef Vejvanovský, Bohuslav Matěj Černohorský, and Antonín Reichenauer, the latter in a North American premiere. František Brixi and Jakub Jan Ryba symbolize music from the Classical interval of Czech music.
An ensemble of Toronto expertise will take the stage, together with soprano Grace Quinsey, mezzo-soprano Catharin Carew, tenor Alexander Cappellazzo, and bass-baritone John Holland. Christopher Dawes performs the organ, with Matheus Coelho conducting a chamber orchestra.
A Czech Christmas
Czech tradition has a particular tackle the Christmas story. Most Christmas tales or Betlémy (Czech nativity scenes) take the nativity story and convey it into a well-known Czech locale resembling a metropolis or citadel. The shepherds change into Czech characters. In the case of the animals, Betlémy typically deliver unique animals resembling elephants into the image.
It’s an imaginative tackle the basic Christmas situation, with the aim of creating the vacation story into the neighborhood, and providing a private connection.
The Music
Czech Baroque
Zelenka: Magnificat in D
Introduction is the time for Magnificats. Zelenka’s, with its dynamic first motion, lyrical second motion, and Amen fugue, is organized for Soprano (Quinsey) and Alto (Carew) soloists, SATB, and orchestra.
Vejvanovksý: Salve Regina
A trumpeter in addition to a composer, it’s not stunning that Pavel Josef Vejvanovský is maybe finest identified for his brass writing. This piece is scored for bass voice (Holland) and strings.
Černohorský: Toccata in C
Bohuslav Matěj Černohorský was nicely often known as an organist, and composer for the organ, in his time, and is usually dubbed “The Bohemian Bach”. Christopher Dawes will carry out his wealthy Toccata in C.
Reichenaur: O Coeli Rorate
Little is thought concerning the lifetime of Antonín Reichenauer, apart from the truth that he was a choirmaster, composer, and organist who died on the younger age of 35 or 36. As such, he’s little identified outdoors of the Czech Republic. His music is likened to that of Vivaldi, and his soprano aria O Coeli Rorate shall be carried out by Grace Quinsey and the string ensemble in a North American premiere.
Classical Czech
All 4 singers (Quinsey, Carew, Cappellazzo, and Holland) will carry out the 2 works from the Classical period.
Brixi: Motetto Pastoritium
Mozart was extraordinarily common within the Czech lands, and that affect will be heard on this piece, which depicts shepherds within the fields waking up and deciding to make their strategy to Bethlehem.
Česká mše vánoční ‘Czech Christmas Mass’
This basic Christmas piece is sung within the Czech language, and in addition harkens a Mozartian sound world. A liturgical textual content in Czech combines with Betlém type storytelling. In it, a peasant tenor (Cappellazzo) wakes up his grasp to inform him that they have to go to Bethlehem to witness Jesus’ start, and let everybody alongside the best way find out about their journey. The organ is on the coronary heart of the instrumentation, blended with strings, winds, and brass.
The Performers
Grace Quinsey, soprano
A local of Windsor, Ontario, Grace’s latest performances embody the function of Josephine in HMS Pinafore, and Giannetta in L’elisir d’amore, each with Opera York, and Mařenka in Smetana’s Prodaná nevěsta within the 12 months of Czech Music Opera Pageant.
Catherine Carew, mezzo-soprano
With a Masters of Music in Vocal Efficiency each from the Guildhall Faculty of Music and Drama, London England and McGill College, Catherin’s roles have included premiering the function of Maeve in Ana Sokolovic’s The Midnight Courtroom on the Royal Opera Home, Covent Backyard with Queen of Puddings Music Theatre.
Alexander Cappellazzo, tenor
Alexander has carried out roles together with Tamino, Nemorino, Lensky, Acis, Don Ottavio, Oronte, and Vasek, and carried out with Opera Atelier, VOICEBOX: Opera In Live performance, Toronto Metropolis Opera, and Toronto Operetta Theatre, amongst others. He’s the founding father of the Apocryphonia Live performance Sequence and the Diapente Renaissance Vocal Quintet, each devoted to presenting underperformed classical works.
John Holland, bass-baritone
John Holland’s operatic roles embody Figaro in Le Nozze di Figaro on the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Leporello and Masetto in Don Giovanni on the Estates Theatre in Prague, and Vodník in Rusalka within the Czech Republic. Along with his performing profession, John is the president and founding father of the Canadian Institute for Czech Music, and Inventive Director of the Toronto Classical Singers in addition to Opera York, and Music Director of Blessed Trinity Parish.
Christopher Dawes, organ
Freelance church, choral and theatre musician Christopher Dawes is the Lead Musician on the Church of St. George-the-Martyr. As a performer he has toured, been recorded, and broadcast by way of the US and Europe. The previous organist and Director of Music at Toronto’s St. James Cathedral, he has labored and toured extensively with choirs n the united statesA., Eire, Hungary, Slovakia and Austria.
Matheus Coelho, conductor
Brazilian conductor Matheus Coelho is a doctorate pupil on the College of Toronto. His large ranging repertoire consists of symphonic, choral, and operatic music. Along with conducting, he’s additionally a clarinetist and vocalist.
The Live performance
Bohemian Vacation takes place on Sunday, November 30 at Christ Church Deer Park.
- Discover different live performance particulars and tickets [HERE].
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Anya Wassenberg is the Toronto Metropolis Editor at Ludwig Van. Beforehand, she was a contract author with a specialty in tradition and journey for 3 a long time, and a artistic writing teacher for Ontariolearn.
