Brilliant choral works by Dvorak and Bernstein will be featured at Meany Hall on Feb. 2 when Kirkland Choral Society and Philharmonia Northwest join forces to present “Songs of Heaven.”
Leonard Bernstein builds a powerful musical story of praise, hubris, and reconciliation through Old Testament verses in Chichester Psalms. Sung in Hebrew, the work begins powerfully with “Awake psaltery and harp; I will rouse the dawn!”
Then, the drama unfolds with “Why do the nations rage … against the Lord and his anointed?” and concludes with a peaceful setting of the words “How pleasant it is, for brethren to dwell together in unity.”
Dr. Glenn Gregg, artistic director of Kirkland Choral Society, notes that Bernstein composed the work for the annual music festival at Chichester Cathedral, Sussex, England.
“And the Te Deum is one of Dvorak’s finest choral works,” Dr. Gregg says, “a magnificent cantata for baritone and soprano soloists, choir and orchestra.” A fourth-century Christian canticle heard frequently in Catholic and Anglican services, the Latin “Te Deum” text translates as “We praise thee O God … all the earth doth worship thee.” The work was set by Dvorak in 1892 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Columbus’ landing in the New World. Seattle Opera singers Kimberly Giordano, soprano, and Jonathan Silvia, baritone, are the featured soloists in the Te Deum. Both have appeared in numerous Puget Sound area opera productions.
Miriam Shames, renowned local cellist, will be featured in Max Bruch’s hauntingly beautiful and richly textured “Kol Nedrei” for cello and orchestra. Rounding out the program are “Three Chorale Preludes,” familiar Bach works in striking orchestral arrangement by Ottorino Respighi. Philharmonia Northwest, one of our areas finest community orchestras, performs under the baton of Julia Tai.
The concert takes place at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 2 at Meany Hall on the University of Washington campus.
Tickets are $18 for adults and $12 for students/seniors. They may be purchased at tickets@kirklandchoralsociety.org or by calling (425) 296-0612.
