The Malaspina Choir will explore a set of three “devastating and gorgeous” poems for their season opener.
Since the program includes selections by Bach (Cantata 140 Wachet Auf), Bruckner (Locus Iste) and Bernstein (The Lark), the choir’s artistic director said the group’s performance delves into themes of renewal and reawakening – including Samuel Barber’s Reincarnations.
“The reason why he called it that was because he took three 19th-century poems, Irish poems, that were translated into English and made them new again,” Fiona Blackburn said. “The middle song is called Anthony O’Daly and speaks to a peasant who was wrongfully accused of a crime in 1820 and was hung and it is the most devastatingly anguished piece of music … And on either sides are love songs, somewhat of a juxtaposition of emotions. But the concert as a whole is this balance of looking back, looking ahead in reflection, hope and rejuvenation.”
Blackburn added that although learning Barber’s Reincarnations was “tricky,” she believed in her choir and pushed the 70 singers to help them perform their best.
The program will provide a balance of familiar works as well, such as Barber’s Adagio For Strings, as well as music from Bernstein’s popular West Side Story arranged for strings, organ and choir.
“When we looked at the date, Remembrance Day weekend, I started thinking right away about repertoire that would resonate with that weekend of reflection,” Blackburn said. “It was really important that we acknowledge this sense of reflection and remembrance … where the players, the singers and the audience can hopefully have some moments of ‘here we are in a world that is not peaceful, where have we come from, where can we go?’”
The choir will also be joined by Jenny Vincent on organ, and the Nanaimo Chamber Orchestra which will add their own set of music under concertmaster Karl Rainer.
Malaspina Choir’s ‘Reincarnations’ concert will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 12, at St. Andrews United Church on Fitzwilliam Street in Nanaimo.
Tickets purchased through www.porttheatre.com.
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