The Apostles Concert Program

36 Pages·2017·1.62 MB·English

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R Stephanie Martin April 29, 2017, 7:30 p.m.
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The Apostles
Edward
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
The Apostles
Edward
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
Please join us in the Next we hear the story of Jesus
mood. ‘At the Sepulchre’ begins
Parish Hall after today’s declaring the Apostle Simon to
with music that describes the
concert for a reception. be Peter, the rock on which the
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
master classes internationally.
LAWRENCE WILIFORD, TENOR
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. He earned a Bachelor of
his voice, and respect for the dignity Music degree at Wilfrid Laurier
University, and the Master of Music Opera!’ In all of her work she pro-
in Opera program at the University motes contemporary Canadian music
of Toronto Opera Division. He and seeks to bring new and exciting
has also trained at the Centre for experiences to her audiences.
Opera Studies in Italy, Highlands
Opera Studio, the Banff Centre’s ETOBICOKE SCHOOL OF
Opera as Theatre Program, and the THE ARTS CHAMBER CHOIR
International Vocal Arts Institute’s This auditioned ensemble, under
training programs in Montreal the direction of Patricia Warnock, is
and Puerto Rico. He has been the comprised of students in the music
recipient of numerous awards and and music theatre departments that
scholarships, including Second Prize meets in the wee hours of the morn-
at the Christina & Louis Quilico ing before classes. The Chamber
Awards. For more information, Choir regularly performs at school
please visit michaeluloth.com. and community concerts, and par-
ticipates in music festivals including
the National Musicfest Competition,
receiving Gold most recently in
Ottawa. One of the choir's man-
dates is to workshop and perform
student compositions, as well as
CHRISTINA FAYE, PIANIST partner with community arts orga-
nizations. We are thrilled to partner
Originally from Thunder Bay, Ontar-
with Pax Christi for The Apostles,
io, Christina discovered her love for
and are grateful to be a part of this
the collaborative arts at the age of
exciting performance.
nine when she began playing for a
local children’s chorus. In 2007 she SOPRANO Chloe Bailey, Allie
earned a Bachelor of Music from Bernstein, Alex Clementi, Daisy
Brandon University, and graduated Kurelek, Kate McNamara, Erika
from the Eastman School of Music Mackenzie, Ashley Offman, Asia Rosa
with a Master of Music in 2009. She
ALTO Alexandra Gao, Trinity
is the music director and organist at
Lougheed, Clara Moir, Claire Tees,
Donway Covenant United Church; an
Madi Thaller, Marigold Vousden
active collaborative and solo pianist;
the accompanist for several large TENOR Simon Cetinic, Callum
choirs; and has held collaborative Challis, Ryun Kim, Troy Lebane,
pianist positions at several major Chris Martel-Fauteux
summer music programs.  Christina
BARITONE Russell Hassan, Josh
is currently launching a season of
Holme, Harrison Rothblott, Kyle Testa
shows across Ontario with come-
dic coloratura soprano Kyra Millan BASS Luke Bernasiewicz, Patrick Dale
entitled ‘Millan & Faye Present: The
PAX CHRISTI CHORALE
Pax Christi Chorale has been thrilling audiences
for 30 years with rarely heard works and fresh
interpretations of the classics, performed with
passion, conviction and heart.
Recent concerts have included Toronto performance of Elgar’s
a semi-staged performance The Kingdom in more than 25
of Mendelssohn’s Elijah with years; a semi-staged performance
the Bicycle Opera Project; an of Handel’s Solomon; Britten’s
innovative performance of Saint Nicolas; and many newly
Berlioz’s L’Enfance du Christ commissioned choral works. The
with the York Dance Ensemble; choir recently released Winter
the North American premiere of Nights, a new CD of works by
Parry’s oratorio Judith; the first Stephanie Martin.
CHORISTERS
SOPRANO Alyson Baergen, Sharlah Barter, Emily Burgetz, Hillary Butler,
Jane Couchman, Irene Courage, Jo-Ann Dawson, Ruth Denton, Mary-Anne
Draffin, Deborah Finlayson, Esther Giesbrecht, Karen Kitchen, Cheryl
Lake, Serene Lin, Maureen Louth, Maria Lundin, Rose Mallett, Gabrielle
McLaughlin*, Eleanor Nash, Christine Oosterhof, Anne-Maria Pennanen,
Marie Penner, Sue Penny, Nila Rajagopal**, Leslie Saffrey, Sue Schultz, Ingrid
Silm, Merry-Anne Stuart**, Sandra Tang, Kathy Van Luit, Jayne Walter,
Carmen Wiebe, Lorna Young
Where we CHURCHES, CATHEDRALS AND
CHAPELS in Oxford, Bath, Stratford,
perform
Gloucester, Malvern, Coventry, and
Worcester, and Birmingham, England
The choir’s regular venue is the beautiful
LITTLE TRINITY CHURCH for
GRACE CHURCH-ON-THE-HILL,
Hiroshima Nagasaki Remembrance Day
but we have also performed at:
METROPOLITAN UNITED CHURCH
SONY CENTRE for Apocalypsis —
for Mahler’s Symphony No. 2
part of the Luminato Festival
ST. PETER'S LUTHERAN CHURCH,
KOERNER HALL for Elgar's The
KITCHENER in joint concerts with the
Kingdom and the North American
Menno Singers
premiere of Parry's Judith
ALTO Anthea Bailie, Madeline Burghardt, Lois Burkholder, Marion Cameron,
Catharin Carew*, Joan Cotton, Virginia Evoy**, Catherine Falconer, Miranda
Farrell-Myers, Margaret Fisher, Erika Friesen, Tricia Haldane, Jan Kainer,
Julia King, Diane Kolin, Sue Kralik, Charmaine Lepp, Sheila Macadam, Susan
Mahoney, Danielle McCandless, Jane McClean, Jo-Ann Minden, Judith
Nancekivell, Marika Pauls Laucht, Alicia Payne, Catherine Peer, Louise
Pogue, Ann Power, Liz Prosser, Ann Reesor, Janet Reid Nahabedian, Andrea
Siemens, Mary Stinson, Adelaide Tam, Anna Tharyan, Esther Willms
TENOR Shawn Brignolio, Douglas Brownlee, John Castillo**, Richard Diver,
Jaymar Figueroa, Bill Found, Ron Greaves, Ed Heide, Mathias Memmel*,
Martin Mostert, Joel Nash, Quinton Neufeldt, Daniel Norman, John Parker,
Ted Parkins, Brian Power, Bruce Smardon, Duncan Stuart, Jared Tomlinson**,
Charles Trimble
BASS Sean Baergen, Robert Burkholder, Christopher Burton, Stephen
Cockle, Peter Dick, David Dimick, Michael Doleschell, Stephen Fetter, Gary
Harder, John Higgins, Hugh Laurence, Dan Leader, Neil Macdonald, Norman
Martin, Joshua Matthews, David McEachren, Aaron Neufeld, Aldred Neufeldt,
David Pabke, Doug Pritchard, George Repetski, Michael Robert-Broder*,
John Rosati, Peter Rudiak-Gould, Kevin Wilson
* Choral Lead ** Choral Scholar
UNDERSTUDIES FOR THE APOSTLES Gabrielle McLaughlin,
Catharin Carew, John Castillo
ORCHESTRA
VIOLIN Sharon BASS Natalie Kemerer, TRUMPET AND
Lee, concertmaster, Nick Bobas, Hans Preuss CORNETTO Norman
Elizabeth Loewen FLUTE Stephen Tam, Engel
Andrews, Tanya Tristan Durie HORN Diane Doig,
Charles, Emily Hau, OBOE Gillian Howard, Nicky Alexander,
Jennifer Burford, Laurel Victoria Hathaway Iris Krizmanic, Neil
Mascarenhas, Brenna ENGLISH HORN Spaulding
Hardy-Kavanagh, Ron Cohen Mann TROMBONE Rachel
Michael Sproule, CLARINET Michele Thomas
Angela Rudden Verheul, James ORGAN Matthew
VIOLA Doug Perry, Ormston Whitfield
Nicholas Papadakis, BASSOON TIMPANI/
CELLO Mary-Katherine Jerry Robinson, PERCUSSION Dean
Finch, Marianne Pack Christian Sharpe Pomeroy, Tim Francom
HARP Julia Seager
BY SUSAN MAHONEY, PAX CHRISTI ALTO
Why I Chose
The Apostles
A conversation with Artistic Director Stephanie Martin about
Elgar and her final concert with Pax Christi Chorale.
For your ‘swan song,’ you have The Apostles tells the epic story of
again chosen a masterpiece that the origin of the Christian church.
is not as well known as it deserves How much does your own faith
to be. What is it about mounting influence your musical choices, and
these lesser-known works that what does it mean to you to per-
appeals to you? form this particular story?
This is the Canadian premiere of The Jesus story is elemental.
The Apostles, and what could be Its themes are central to being
more exciting than that? There human. Even if you have no con-
is so much wonderful art in the nection to Christianity, the story
world that is overlooked because is compelling. Here was a person
we don’t have the courage to con- who set out to make the world
front what we don’t know — so better by teaching love, healing
I congratulate my audience for sick people, talking to outcasts,
taking a risk, and our supporters and generally inspiring everyone
for bringing this unknown master- to do good, even to the point of
piece to Toronto. doing good to an enemy. The trag-
edy of his execution, the catharsis
of Easter morning, the sublime
experience of Ascension, is the
ultimate material for art.