Venue: The Chan Centre, U.B.C
Date(s): 19 October, 2001
Reviewer: Jane Penistan
What a treat for lovers of a capella singing to hear
these two
exceptional choirs perform in the superb acoustics of the Chan Centre.
The two choirs, under the baton of Jon Washburn, opened the programme
with Bach's Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit auf, BWV226. The
exquisite tone and the precision of the fugal passages set the standard
for the rest of the concert. Following these familiar motets was a less
well-known composition by Pablo Casals, O vos omnes. The sheer
beauty of this piece brought tears to the eyes.
Choral Arts Northwest under conductor Richard Sparks, then sang Brahms'
Warum ist das Licht gegeben. Here the heavier romantic style
was realized in this solemn and funerary setting which resolves into
an assured and certain culmination. In contrast, the English sixteenth
century text in an early twentieth century composition, Faire is
the Heaven by William Harris, is an antiphonal work typical of
much church choir music. The solemnity is modified, but the reverence
remains.
Hymn to the Creator of Light by John Rutter, began with a soft
and reverent opening rising through a long and delicately managed
crescendo to a ringing final phrase in the first motet. A quieter and
more contemplative second movement giving praise and thanks for the
achievements of the arts followed. In the last movement, a prayer of
thanksgiving, the basses singing of this magnificent motet was
awe-inspiring.
A presentation was made to Jon Washburn in honour of his recent
appointment to the Order of Canada. The Vancouver Chamber Choir and
its conductor then gave the great pleasure of performing Purcell's
lovely Hear My Prayer and Bob Chilcott's composition,
My Prayer based on the Purcell motet, commissioned and sung by
the choir for Festival Vancouver 2001. The soloists were Siri Olesen
and Katherine Goheen, sopranos.
The ringing tones of R. Murray Schafer's Alleluia followed. The
excitement began with the lower voices humming while the higher voices
sang "alleluia", gradually moving in to answering and echoing passages
of "alleluia" resolving into a glorious, triumphant finale.
Reincarnations, comprises three poems from the late 18th century
Irish poet, Blind Raftery, reworked by the 20th century's James
Stephens and set by the American composer Samuel Barber. The first
poem is in praise of a beautiful colleen, Mary Hynes; the second a
lament for a martyr hanged for shooting a man; and the third a
tender love ballad. A haunting strain of melancholy and mysticism
runs through all three, which were sung with restrained sensitivity.
Choral Arts Northwest rejoined the Vancouver Chamber Choir for the
evening's final offering conducted by Richard Sparks. Requiem,
was composed by Herbert Howells in 1936, but not released for
performance until shortly before his death in 1983. The texts, taken
from the Psalms and Christian burial services, are scored for mixed
voices with brief soprano, tenor and baritone solos sung by Linda
Strandberg and Sarah Markovits, sopranos; Kari Frost, alto; Gavin Pyle
and Bob McCaffery-Lent,tenors and Benjamin Harris, baritone. This
serious work with its expression of faith was performed with deep
reverence and ended the evening with the promise of eternal light and
unbroken heavenly peace. A comforting assurance at this present time.
© 2001, Jane Penistan