Classical music: Voices shine in festive concerts
Credit to Author: Tracey Tufnail| Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2019 19:00:58 +0000
When: Dec 22, 3 pm (pre-concert talk 2:15)
Where: Chan Centre for the Performing Arts
Info and tickets:earlymusic.bc.ca
Christmas music rises to its climax in the days ahead with many events to choose from, and a few innovations as well. Music for voices is at the centre of celebrations; here are some options to consider for high quality live seasonal music.
For me, the must-hear event of a Vancouver December is always Early Music Vancouver’s long-running Festive Cantatas project at the Chan Centre. In 2019 it’s all music from 17th century Venice, and if there is more splendid repertoire to hear on a winter afternoon, I’d like to know about it.
Bruce Dickey.
EMV has assembled a all-star cast of singers plus strings and period brass, and the project is under the expert direction of Bruce Dickey, a virtuoso on the cornetto — a splendid early music instrument that blends especially well with voices.
Dickey is one of the pioneers of early music, and it’s significantly due to his effort, enthusiasm, and expertise that the sound of the cornetto is once again heard in our concert halls.
In his notes for the Festive Cantatas program, he promises “festive music worthy of the season but also of the pomp and brilliance of the Venetian State.”
He continues: “The Venetians loved pomp and splendour in all things; indeed, laws were periodically passed limiting public displays of wealth. On feast days of particular political importance to the Serenissima, the Doge occupied an impressive throne in front of the main altar (in St. Mark’s Basilica), his guests at his side, and the Venetian nobility arranged nearby. All would have been superbly placed to hear the musicians and singers deployed in the choir lofts above and in an array of little balconies and structures.”
Some of the most splendid repertoire ever was created for St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice.
A real wealth of music will be showcased at the Chan — not as splendiferous as San Marco, but, with all its levels and boxes, a modern space with countless possibilities.
The program will include “Motets for from two to 15 voices, as well as dazzling sonatas and canzonas for cornetti, trombones, and strings. In this Christmas concert, we do not attempt to reconstruct any particular service or event, but rather to invite the listener to follow the Doge’s musical chapel to St. Mark’s and other Venetian churches, and experience the sumptuous sounds with which Venetians celebrated the holidays.”
Count me in.
Other events of note:
• The singers of vocal ensemble musica intima opt for intimate performances in multiple locations, which means good options to catch Sing Lullaby in one of five performances between Dec. 13 and 22. For something a bit more rowdy, they also host a one-night only show, Ding Dong! (“an irreverent take on seasonal songs”), Dec. 19, 8 p.m., St James Community Square. Info at musicaintima.org
• Phoenix Chamber Choir offers two Phoenix Christmas programs Dec. 14, 7:30 p.m., Shaughnessy Heights United Church, and Dec. 15, 4 p.m., West Vancouver United Church. phoenixchoir.com.
• The men of Chor Leoni usually mount one of the last holiday concerts of the year. This time around they add a new element to their Christmas with Chor Leoni: Angels Dance at the Orpheum, inviting dancers from Arts Umbrella, plus pianist Tina Chang, harpist Vivian Chen, guitarist Ed Henderson, and percussionist Katie Rife, for an eclectic program of traditional music from diverse cultures Dec. 21, 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. If that date conflicts with other events at this hyper-busy time of the year, there’s a “just the music” version on offer Dec. 22, 3 pm, at West Vancouver United. chorleoni.org.
• The Vancouver Cantata Singers have already had a busy season with Messiah last month, but it wouldn’t be the holidays without Christmas Reprise (17th edition!), Dec. 21. Demand for this event is always strong, and you can count on the matinee at Holy Rosary Cathedral, 2 p.m., being very well attended. But there’s a show in New Westminster’s Queens Avenue United Church later that same evening at 7:30 p.m. — a very different atmosphere, true, but the same excellent singers and the same evocative repertoire. vancouvercantatasingers.com.
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