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Tuned In: Westchester Chorale at Mercy College By Tom Bock
Posted on Monday, May 02 @ 17:50:00 EDT by ehezi
DOBBS FERRY, NY -- May 2, 2005 --
As I was about to leave one event last night, I jokingly commented that I had to leave to hear live music, not a DJ. Everyone laughed and I hit the road toward Mercy College's Rotunda in Dobbs Ferry. There I would listen to not only live music, but music complicated to perform. The Chorale's Saturday started at 3:30 p.m. concluding with a final orchestral rehearsal, a brief break for dinner and then the 8:00 p.m. performance.
My previous event caused me to be late to this one; my third event of the day. Upon arrival, beautiful music could be heard emanating from a distance. I followed the music to the spectacular rotunda. It's been over thirty years since I last visited this amazing room. Lined on the perimeter with wooden benches, the hall was half-filled with musicians and singers; the other half with an audience engrossed in this performance. Thankfully, no one noticed my late entrance.
Tonight's concert was directed by Guest Conductor Eric Kramer, Music Director of Collegium Westchester, in residence at First Presbyterian Church of Ossining. Interestingly Kramer provided literal translations of the lyrics from the native language into English. Bravo for this thoughtfulness.
The Westchester Chorale is now celebrating its 40th anniversary season as one of Westchester County’s leading musical ensembles. Acclaimed for excellence in choral performance, the Chorale is in its second year as Chorus-in-Residence at Mercy College, which provides rehearsal and performance space to the Chorale group in the Rotunda at the College’s Dobbs Ferry campus.
An avocational mixed chorus, the Chorale's members are drawn from all walks of life: artists, professional musicians, physicians and attorneys, teachers and librarians, retirees and homemakers. Their concerts feature soloists drawn from the Metropolitan Opera, the New York City Opera and other distinguished affiliations, professional instrumentalists and orchestras.
Tonight's concert was entitled Our Song Blossoms Forth: Joyous Works of Bach and Mendelssohn. The Westchester Chorale performed Bach's Cantata # 182, Himmelskonig, Sei Willkommen, and Mendelssohn's Lobgesang, his Symphony No. 2. Mendelssohn composed his "Symphonie-Cantata" in part as tribute to Beethoven's great Choral Symphony, although musically, this work has many compositional ties to Bach's cantatas. The two works are both celebratory and joyous in tone.
Featured soloists this evening included Terri Hoover Huntington, soprano, Elmira Mitzanova, mezzo-soprano, Richard Slade, tenor, and Israel Pessoa, bass, and the Collegium Westchester Orchestra. What remarkable music this combination proved to be. Typically, when discussing music of this nature, most afficianadoes insist that you must travel to New York City to hear it performed competently. This group proves without a shadow of a doubt that this is not correct.
When I arrived, the soloists were already underway. I listened to hear if they faultered on a note, a beat or a cue. They did not! Acoustically, I expected the singers and musicians to be competing with the room. Again, they did not. Amazingly, the rotunda almost seemed to be constructed to compliment their performance. The ensemble singing along with the frenzy of the orchestra dished out perfection. Many audience members sat almost hypnotically, slowly rocking their heads back and forth, eyes closed, mesmerized, as the performers gave them what they hoped for: New York City style excellence!
The mission of the Chorale is to create outstanding performances of great masterworks of the choral repertory. They have certainly met that goal as of last night's performance. Working for the past 20 years under the inspiring guidance of Music Director Daniel Paget, the Chorale continues to build upon its traditions: unparalleled distinction of artistic conception and execution, imaginative and illuminating programming, performances that intrigue, delight, illuminate and inspire.
Tickets were only $20. Quite the bargain for a show of this caliber. Consider the Westchester Chorale to be a "must hear" for those of you who enjoy local, quality, live musical performances.
The Westchester Chorale is a member of the Westchester Arts Council and the Eastchester Arts Council. They invite you to join them as Chorale members, audience, supporters, volunteers and as participants at our sings. Please call us at 1-914/ 237.9546 or 1-914 / 674.1073 for more information.
Note: "Tuned In" With Tom Bock is your window to the world of art and entertainment. Tom Bock is the official critic for YonkersTribune.com . E-mail may be directed to Tom Bock .
This article by Tom Bock was posted online at www.yonkerstsribune.com on Monday, May 2, 2005.
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