The Chorus of Westerly Performs
A Festive Christmas Cantata by Ralph Vaughan Williams
WESTERLY, RI ??? The 190 voices of the Chorus of Westerly unite with Festival Orchestra and notable soloists for the first time during the 2016-2017 season, to bring to life Ralph Vaughan Williams joyful Christmas cantata, Hodie (This Day), on Sunday, November 20th, 2016, at 4pm and 6pm. Conducted by Andrew Howell, both performances will take place in the George Kent Performance Hall, 119 High Street in Westerly, Rhode Island.??
Tickets for both performances are on sale now. Prices range $21-$65 with student discounts available. Tickets can be purchased at the Kent Hall Box??Office at 119 High Street, Westerly, or by calling 401.596.8663. Tickets are also available online at chorusofwesterly.org.
The festive Christmas cantata, Hodie, crafts a powerful and emotional telling of the Nativity story as the piece journeys through its 16 movements of Biblical text interwoven with poetry. Sung in English, with the exception of the Prologue, each movement is stylistically unique. The brass fanfares and jubilant ???Nowells??? sung by the full Chorus create a joyous opening, which leads into a mix of gentle songs and hymns, highlighted by the narration movements performed by the Chorus trebles. The piece culminates with the full Chorus, soloists, and orchestra reuniting for the triumphant Epilogue.????
Regarded as one of the finest British composers of the 20th century, Ralph Vaughan Williams is known for his ability to create a diverse repertoire of music ???notable for its power, nobility and expressiveness??? (Ralph Vaughan Williams Society). His prolific career included symphonies, operas, ballets, chamber music, film music and choral and orchestral works. Hodie is a prime example of his expressive range and was the last major choral-orchestral composition for the composer.
The Chorus of Westerly, founded in 1959, has performed more music by Ralph Vaughan Williams than almost any other composer, and his Christmas cantata is a particular favorite. The November 20th concerts mark the sixth time the Chorus has performed the Hodie work. The Chorus is also featuring Here Is The Little Door and Magnificat (Collegium Regale) both by Herbert Howells on the concert program this fall. Hodie was originally dedicated to Herbert Howells in 1954, at its premiere in Worcester, England.
Joining the Chorus of Westerly for the performance are three noted vocalists; two of whom are making their debut at Kent Hall. Tenor Daniel Weeks sang as part of the Chorus???s performance of Dvorak???s Stabat Mater two seasons ago and accompanied the Chorus on its Central Europe tour in 2014.?? Soprano Rachele Schmiege and Baritone Andrew Garland both are making their debut at the Chorus of Westerly. Ms. Schmiege has performed in the region before, appearing in performances at Salt Marsh Opera.
The Saturday prior to the concert, Music Director Andrew Howell will offer a free lecture on Ralph Vaughan Williams and his distinguished work at 12 pm in the Rehearsal Room of Kent Hall. The lecture will run until 1 pm. From 2 pm to 4:30 pm, the Chorus will rehearse with the orchestra in the main hall. The rehearsal is open to the public and free to attend.
The Hodie concerts are made possible through generous support from Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, Marion Palm, South County Health, Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Sculco, The Thomas W. Smith Foundation. Media sponsors for the performance are WCRI Classical 95.9 FM and WBLQ 1230 AM.
The 190-voice Chorus of Westerly is one of the nation???s only intergenerational symphonic choral ensembles. For each concert in its professional concert season, children ages 8 to 18 sing alongside adult singers as ensemble members of equal rank and expectations. Founded in 1959 by George Kent and today directed by Andrew Howell, the Chorus has had more than 2,500 area residents sing in its program, with more than 1,500 singing as child members. In its 57 seasons, the Chorus has presented nearly 700 performances to over 1.7 million people. The Chorus has performed in concert over 100 major choral works with fully professional orchestra and soloists, and has presented 13 major American premieres. While its home is in Rhode Island, the Chorus has toured internationally four times, singing in such venues as Smetana Hall in Prague, Stephansdom in Vienna, Westminster Abbey, and St. Peter???s??Basilica in the Vatican while also receiving countless awards for its work. The Chorus has also established regional traditions such as their annual Summer Pops??performance which is attended annually by 25,000 people. In addition to its extensive performance season, the Chorus also offers a broad reaching musical??education program to its singing members and area children. This includes an?????in rehearsal??? music fundamentals class for all child and adult singers focusing on sight-singing, theory, and other musical techniques, as well as an introductory music and movement class for children ages 3 to 7. The Chorus is also one of only three American choral organizations to own and operate its own performance venue – the??historic George Kent Performance Hall.