The Guelph Chamber Choir will present with the Orpheus Choir of Toronto a joint concert of choral works from Russia, Latvia and Canada at Harcourt Memorial United Church here on Feb. 27 at 8 pm.
The coming together of two of southern Ontario’s outstanding choirs is the winter feature of the Guelph Choir’s 30th anniversary season.
The heart of the evening will be a performance of select movements from Rachmaninoff’s All-Night Vigil or Vespers performed in the original liturgical Russian. Based on ancient chants, Rachmaninoff’s composition, created in less than two weeks, is considered the greatest musical achievement of Russian Orthodoxy.
Complementing that masterwork are explorations of chant from Latvia and Canada:
– Dona Nobis, by Peter Vasks (Latvia);
– Amazing Grace, by Eriks Esenvalds (Latvia);
– The Kontakion, by Rupert Lang (Canada); and
– Oh Great Mystery, by Tim Corlis (Canada)
Conductor Gerald Neufeld will share the podium with Robert Cooper and welcome him and his choir to Guelph. Early in their careers, Neufeld and Cooper studied together in Germany under the tutelage of choral master, Helmuth Rilling.
Cooper also conducts Chorus Niagara, Opera in Concert, Toronto Operetta Theatre, and is an esteemed member of the faculty of the Royal Conservatory of Music. A recipient of the Order of Canada, he is well known from his work with CBC Radio Two as Executive Producer of Opera and Choral Music.
The Orpheus Choir of Toronto is an ensemble, 60 voices strong, with a mandate to celebrate life through the discovery and performance of fine choral music. It is now in its 45th season.
Tickets are available through the River Run Centre by calling 519-763-3000, online at www.riverrun.ca, or at the door at Harcourt Memorial United Church. Choir and board members will be pleased to sell tickets as well. Tickets are $25 each (students and eyeGO: $10 and $5).
For more information, visit guelphchamberchoir.ca or call 519-836-5103.
