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Maria Joseph

Subject to Updating

@ Trinity Lutheran

7:30 – 9:30 pm

April 16 & 20 >>> Dress Rehearsals w/  Orchestra

@ Trinity Lutheran

Time – TBA

April 21  >>>  Concert: Baroque Brilliance

@ Trinity Lutheran

Concert Call Time – TBA

April 23   *No Rehearsal*

April 30  >>>  CD Recording Rehearsal

@ Trinity Lutheran

7:30 – 9:30 pm

May 7 & 14  >>>  CD Recording Rehearsal

@ Trinity Lutheran

7:30 – 9:30 pm – Subject to change

May 21  >>>  CD Recording Rehearsal

Location – TBA

Time – TBA

WORCESTER —  A Celebration of Classical Masters was the theme of the concert presented by the Salisbury Singers on Sunday in Blessed Sacrament Church. Liturgical music of Michael Haydn, Schubert and Mozart comprised the program. 

Accompaniment was provided by a small string ensemble, with four excellent soloists. 

Though not as well-known as his famous brother, Michael Haydn was a prolific composer with hundreds of compositions to his name. His setting of the gradual, “Petite et Accipietis” (“Ask and You shall Receive”) was the first number on the program, conducted by John Schnelle, assistant conductor of the Salisbury Singers. The chorus gave a precise and professional rendition of this seldom heard piece. 

The most important work on the program was the Mass in G by Franz Schubert. Though it is an early work of Schubert’s, it has many Romantic qualities such as dramatic use of dynamics and soaring melodic lines. These were delivered beautifully by the chorus, and the intensity of the forte passages was particularly thrilling. Though the Mass is basically homophonic in character, the short bursts of polyphony were very clearly and precisely sung. The three soloists in the Schubert Mass were Jean Danton, soprano, Eric Christopher Perry, tenor, and Kyle Siddons, baritone; and all performed admirably, especially in their beautifully realized and affecting reading of the Benedictus. 

After the Schubert, there was a brief pause in the performance so that an award could be presented to UniBank, longtime supporter and the day’s sponsor of this Salisbury Singers Concert. 

Archbishop Colloredo of Salzburg, enthroned during Mozart’s time, expected a Mass to last no longer than 45 minutes, so Mozart was somewhat time-constrained in these works. He wrote seven or eight Missae Breves, the one in F major being the final piece on the program. This Mass is also homophonic for the most part, though there are a few polyphonic passages, many of which were not completely realized by Mozart. The choral tone was rich, focused and well-supported, and the string ensemble executed its small parts admirably. The lovely mezzo-soprano Eileen Christiansen joined the other three excellent soloists to complete the quartet needed in this short Mass. 

Though this was a lovely little concert, one can’t help but wonder why two Masses were programmed, particularly two such similar ones. Replacing one of the Masses with a magnificat, Te Deum or some motets would have added some diversity to a program showcasing Classical Masters while still retaining the liturgical theme. 

The Salisbury Singers, joined by the Mastersingers of Worcester, will be presenting another Mass, this one by 20th-century Belgian composer Joseph Jongen June 5 in St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Chorus leaves audience wanting more

Salisbury Singers give impressive holiday concert

By John Zeugner TELEGRAM & GAZETTE REVIEWER

The Salisbury Singers fashioned an impressive early jump on the holiday season last night with a concert titled “The Brilliance of Bach.” Music Director Michelle Graveline ingeniously found a way to pack her 81 singers into the front of the sanctuary of Trinity Lutheran Church and still provide room for the dozen musicians of The Bach Consort of Worcester as accompaniment, with Lynne LaComfora on the harpsichord.

The enormous, vaulted vertical space of the church posed some acoustic challenges for this concert celebrating the 325th anniversary of Bach’s birth, but nonetheless was an impressive vessel for the joyous monumentality of the music.

The opening Motet, “Lobet den Herrn” was probably written as a singing accompaniment to the choir’s slow-walking entrance, a kind of prelude to the formal cantata that Bach, incredibly, generated weekly for his church’s Sunday services. Under Graveline’s always exacting and precise command the piece served as a brilliant warmup for both chorus and audience to adjust to the sound-spaces of Trinity Lutheran. The conclusion was a superbly rendered spiraling “Alleluia!” displaying the chorus’s articulation and space-filling power.

The second selection featured Trinity organist John Weit, above and behind the large audience, at the church’s massive organ. He played the “Organ Chorale Prelude: Nun Komm Der Heiden Heiland,” BWV 659, a stately and complex piece with strong resonances from Dietrich Buxtehude, as well as monastic plainsong. The organ’s power from the back of the church seemed a perfect rejoinder to the chorus’s opening thunder from the church’s front. It was a dizzying illustration of Bach’s unbelievable facility spinning music effects.

Bach’s cantata for the first Sunday of Advent, the actual “Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland,” BWV 62, concluded the first half of the concert. It began with a wonderfully realized chamber orchestra string prelude, followed by the chorus’s stout enunciation of the Savior’s birth and subsequent worship of the Lord.

The next four movements were handled by soloists accompanied by the Bach Consort, with the chorus silent. The splendid, extensive program notes were invaluable in grasping the cantata, with full text in German and translations provided. Tenor Stanley Wilson precisely articulated the 2nd movement’s celebration of the miracle of Christ’s birth, with, occasionally, Wilson sacrificing heft for enunciation. The orchestral support was spacious and fluent. Bass-Baritone Steven Small capably threaded through the third movement recitative and deftly, if quietly, delivered the 4th movement aria, “Streite, siege, starker Held.” Soprano Elisabeth Gondek was joined by Margaret Tartaglia, mezzo-soprano, for the joint recitative 5th movement, and then the chorus wound things up with a majestic, vault-filling “Praise be to God the Father … for ever and in eternity!” One longed to hear more from the chorus, a desire partially fulfilled in the concert’s second half.

After the intermission Graveline took up Bach’s familiar cantata BWV 140, “Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme,” – “Awake, the watchmen call to us …” with interior movements detailing the brides awaiting-their-bridegroom story strangely spliced in. The chorus handles the 1st, 4th (tenors only) and final 7th movement. Soloists handle the rest culminating in stirring 3rd and 6th movement duets by Small and Gondek. The first duet was preceded by a violin solo masterfully rendered by Peter Sulski. The second duet featured accompaniment from the Bach Consort’s spot-on woodwind section. But it was the chorus that thrilled the audience, especially in the conclusion, lushly thundering out Bach’s familiar hymn music that pulled the audience into a standing ovation. It did seem the talented chorus was a bit short-changed. One longed to hear more from them. Doubtless Graveline, a thoughtful classicist, wanted to keep her various elements balanced, and faithful to Bach’s directives, but as the sublime comic Zero Mostel asserted: “When you’ve got it, baby, flaunt it. Flaunt it!” The Salisbury Singers clearly have got it. Next time, let them dominate.

Salisbury Singers to Treat Audiences to
‘A Night at the Opera’
Wine Tastings, Silent Auction to Enhance Gala Concert

WORCESTER, Mass. — Salisbury Singers will perform famous choruses from Carmen, La Traviata, Lucia di Lammermoor and more at “A Night at the Opera,” also featuring complimentary wine tastings and a silent auction, on Saturday, May 15 at 7 p.m. at the First Unitarian Church, 90 Main St., Worcester.

Tickets are $20, $18 senior citizens and students, and $10 for children under 12 and may be purchased online at www.salisburysingers.org or by calling 508-799-3848. Proceeds support the nonprofit chorus, which has been providing a musical outlet for Central Massachusetts residents since 1973.

“We’re very excited about the performance and fundraiser and hope that the popular program will draw new audiences,” said Marieke Peleman, a Salisbury Singers Inc. board member who lives in Holden. “The size of the chorus and high quality of its performances make Salisbury Singers a cultural force in Central Massachusetts.”

More than 50 singers will be joined by four renowned professional soloists: soprano Andrea Matthews, mezzo-soprano Gale Fuller, tenor Ray Bauwens and baritone John Whittlesey. Michelle Graveline, Salisbury Singers’ music director, will take the podium, with Christopher Walters assisting and Lynne La Comfora and Olga Rogach accompanying on piano.

The evening will also feature a silent auction featuring fine wine, jewelry, handcraft furniture, pottery and crystal, dining gift certificates, Patriots tickets, a Worcester Art Museum memebership and more. Enjoy a private, guided nature hike up Mt. Wachusett, a visit to Tower Hill Botanic Garden, tickets to the Boston Symphony Orchestra, a color consulting and decorating session, fitness training, and a spa gift set. Bidding begins at 6:30 p.m. Items are available for preview online at www.salisburysingers.org.

During an extended intermission, audience members will be invited to taste a variety of wines courtesy of O’Hara’s Wine and Liquors, 402 West Boylston St., Worcester. Owner Jim Vasiliadis will be pouring an Argentinian malbec, a German riesling, a California cabrnet and red zinfandel, a Loire Valley Bordeaux  blanc and perhaps a couple of sparkling wines. He said he is eager to introduce an Australian sparkling shiraz that received rave reviews at a recent wine dinner he hosted at the Webster House. Vasiliadis will provide a list of the wines, all available at his store, with special pricing for the Salisbury Singers’ audience.

“It’s a great partnership,” he said. “Any time something livens up the community — music, art or dance — it’s a great event.”

Plus, Vasiliadis added, “How often do you get to go out to the opera?”

Worcester – “Requiem and Remembrance” was the title of the thoughtfully conceived program presented by the Salisbury Singers and guest artists on Sunday afternoon in the Chapel of the Holy Spirit at Assumption College. The requiem segment of the program was Maurice Duruflé’s “Requiem,” and the “Remembrance” segment consisted of four songs by contemporary Canadian composers.

Michelle Graveline, conductor, and the Salisbury Singers opened the program with “Remember,” a song by Stephen Chatman on a poem by Christina Rossetti, which mourns a lost love. This was sung a cappella with a lovely rich tone and clear enunciation of the words. Eleanor Daley is the composer of the second piece, “For the Fallen,” which reflects on war and its losses. The chorus was joined in this piece by a solo trumpet and solo cello, unfortunately played with inaccurate intonation which detracted from the rich harmonies sung by the chorus. Stephen Hatfield’s piece, “All Too Soon,” was a remembrance of home and was poignantly sung. 

The fourth of the group of Canadian songs was “Song for the Mira” sung by the Worcester Children’s Chorus, and what a delightful little group they were! 

Conducted by Jennifer Kane and accompanied by Malcolm Halliday on piano and Lydia Consilvio on oboe, the young people sang in tune, with precise rhythm, and with a pleasing relaxed tone. Working with their talented conductor to produce more focused vowel sounds will help them to improve. It was a wonderful experience for this group to sing on a concert program with adults and a perfect training ground to prepare future singers for choruses in the area. Kudos to all involved in this arrangement. 

Christopher Walters was the guest conductor for the Duruflé Requiem which was accompanied by the Salisbury Chamber Orchestra and organist William Ness. Kyle Siddons provided the baritone solo within the third and eighth sections of the Mass, and the Worcester Children’s Chorus sang the “Pie Jesu” segment with poise and sensitivity. Overall, the Salisbury Singers gave a competent performance, with good dynamic shadings and phrasing. However, the soprano section of the chorus did not meet the high standard set by the altos and the male voices, often sounding tentative and strained. They will need to work diligently to match the fine singing of their colleagues. Entrances in all voices, which were precise in the group of Canadian songs, were not always secure in the Requiem, so one needs to look at the baton technique of the conductor. Walters has a very unobtrusive and fluid conducting technique, which bodes well for relaxed singing, but he must be certain that the beat is precise and clear for his singers. This issue will certainly be resolved as he completes his doctoral studies. 

The chamber orchestra, as small as it was, overpowered the singing and the clarity of the text. Given the beautiful sonorities created by William Ness and the sensitivity of his playing, one wished that the organ alone had been used for accompaniment. 

Despite some flaws, the program was enjoyable and effective in conveying its message, and future programs of the Salisbury Singers are eagerly anticipated. The inclusion of the Worcester Children’s Chorus was a delightful addition and a wonderful idea. We look forward to hearing them again.

© 2010 Worcester Telegram & Gazette Corp

http://www.telegram.com/article/20100309/NEWS/3090387

Dear Chorus,

We are excited to share with you several significant changes to our means of communicating and connecting with our members and audience.

First of all, this email reflects our new email template. It improves our public presence by adding continuity to the look and feel of our web site and other means of correspondence. Internally, we’ll be using it to communicate with you about chorus news and information. Publicly, we will use it to disseminate notices of upcoming concerts and season-related information to email list subscribers. The “Forward to a Friend” link (see here, below) makes the information even easier to share.

In addition, SS’s web site has been enhanced. Most notably, it is now possible for visitors to self-subscribe to SS’s mailing list (http://salisburysingers.org/mailinglist.html) AND purchase tickets online (http://salisburysingers.org/performances.html). These features will allow SS to easily grow and maintain a valuable list of emails and collect basic, useful information, such as name, number and zip code.

Last, but not least, Salisbury Singers, Inc. now has a Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Salisbury-Singers-Inc/307325189557. Visit and become a fan!

More will be explained at tonight’s rehearsal, but there’s no need to wait. You can help SS broaden its audience and financial base now by sharing news about our website and Facebook page generously, and encouraging as many as you can to join.

Yours truly,

Salisbury Singers Board of Directors

December 2009

Hi Michelle,

It was a real pleasure to make music with your marvelous chorus not once but three times! I feel so blessed. It can’t get any better than this. Thank you very much for all your great training and preparing the chorus for me to enjoy.

Please extend my sincere appreciation to all the chorus members! This group sounded the best! Well balanced sections with warm sound! Bravo to you!! Have a Merry Christmas and more Happy Musical Year!

Francis

2009-2010 Season

All rehearsals, unless otherwise noted will be at our usual location
UNITED CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, WORCESTER