MESSIAH

Maestro Victor Sawa Music Director

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2010Third Avenue United Church

Saskatoon, SK

Handel ’s enduring masterpiece!

SASKATOON SYMPHONY CHAMBER ORCHESTRA SERIES

December 8, 2010

George Frideric Handel’s

Saskatoon Symphony Chamber Orchestra

Maestro Victor Sawa conductor

Guest Artists:

Mary Joy Nelson soprano

Lisa Hornung mezzo-soprano

Michael Harris tenor

Jordie Hughton baritone

Saskatoon Chamber Singers directed by James Hawn

Gallery Singers of North Battleford directed by Dianne Gryba

7:30 p.m. Third Avenue United Church, Saskatoon

MESSIAH

programOverture

Recit: Comfort ye, my people

Aria: Every valley shall be exalted

Chorus: And the glory of the Lord

Recit: Thus saith the Lord of Hosts

Aria: But who may abide

Chorus: And He shall purify

Recit: Behold, a virgin shall conceive

Aria and Chorus: O thou that tellest good tidings

Chorus: For unto us a child is born

Pastoral Symphony

Recit: There were shepherds abiding

Recit: And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them

Recit: And the angel said unto them

Recit: And suddenly there was  

Chorus: Glory to God in the highest

Aria: Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion

Recit: Then shall the eyes

Aria: He shall feed his flock; Come unto Him

Chorus: Lift up your heads

Aria: Why do the nations so furiously rage together?

Chorus: Let us break their bonds asunder

Recit: He that dwelleth in heaven    

Aria: Thou shalt break them

Chorus: Hallelujah!

— intermission— (20 minutes)

Chorus: Surely He hath borne our griefs.

Aria: He was despised

Chorus: And with His stripes we are healed

Chorus: All we like sheep

Recit: All they that see Him

Recit: Thy rebuke hath broken His heart

Aria: Behold, and see if there be any sorrow

Recit: He was cut off out of the land

Aria: I know that my Redeemer liveth

Chorus: Since by man came death

Recit: Behold, I tell you a mystery

Aria: The Trumpet shall Sound

Chorus: Worthy is the Lamb

Chorus: Amen

meet maestro sawa

Victor Sawa is a triple threat of talent, experience and personal dynamism in the orchestral world. Now Music Director of the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra, he holds similar positions with orchestras in Sudbury and Regina. He was prev-iously Resident Conductor with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra (1993-1997), Music Director with the North Bay Symphony, the Guelph Youth Orchestra and the Kitchener-Waterloo Orchestra. He also served as Principal Clarinet with the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony. He has been guest conductor for orchestras across the country.

Maestro Sawa has received many awards and honours, including three Canada Council awards for Conducting, a Grand Prix du Disque—Best Chamber Music Recording (Canadian Chamber Ensemble), a Grammy award (with the New England Ragtime Ensemble), and the Tanglewood Festival award for Outstanding Musician. A Montreal native, Mr. Sawa holds a Bachelor of Music with Distinction from McGill University and an Honours Masters of Music Performance from the New England Conservatory of Music and is also a graduate of the Pierre Monteux School for Advanced Conductors.

Music Director / Conductor, Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra

meet the orchestraViolin 1Michael Swan (Concertmaster) Martha Kashap (Assistant Concertmaster) Mary Lou Day Lillian Jen-Payzant Joan Savage Marcel van den Hurk Simon Fanner Maxim Pletnev

Violin 2Oxana Ossiptchouk (Principal) Karen Bindle Oriana Watt Rosanne Daku Karen Ogle Sarah Tsoi Arthur BoanSophie McBean

ViolaJim Legge (Principal) Saache Heinrich Jeremy Janzen Katie McBean

CelloScott McKnightJohn Payzant Bernadette Wilson Carman Rabuka Joel MacDonald Christina Bakanec (on leave)

BassRichard Carnegie (Principal) David Humphrey David Grosse Warren Hay Dave Pyra

FluteRandi Nelson (Principal) Brenda Moats

OboeLief Mosbaugh (Principal, on leave) Erin Brophey (Principal, temporary)Kevin Junk

ClarinetMargaret Wilson (Principal) Bradley Powell

BassoonPeter Gravlin (Principal) Marie Sellar

HornCarol-Marie Cottin (Principal) Arlene Shiplett Dubrena Myroon Micajah Sturgess

TrumpetTerry Heckman (Principal) Daniel Funk Dean McNeill

TromboneDon Schmidt (Principal) Brian Unverricht Dawn McLean-Belyk

TubaBrent Longstaff (Principal)

TimpaniDarrell Bueckert (Principal)

PercussionRoy Sydiaha (Principal) Trent Remlinger

HarpCécile Denis

Saskatchewan born mezzo-soprano Lisa Hornung has been acclaimed for her work in repertoire that ranges from Baroque to contemporary

composers. Her voice has been called “rich and powerful” and her stage presence has “inspired audiences and musicians alike”. Most often heard in Handel’s Messiah, Ms. Hornung’s orchestral performances also include Beethoven’s Mass in C Major, Mozart’s Requiem, Coronation Mass and Vesperae solennes de Confessore, Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater, Handel’s Messiah, the Durufle Requiem, Ruth Watson-Henderson’s From Darkness to Light, Verdi’s Requiem, Bach’s Magnificat and Christmas Oratorio, Vivaldi’s Gloria, Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 and Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Vaughn William’s Magnificat, The May Queen by Bennett and the Alto Rhapsody by Brahms.

In addition to her oratorio and orchestral work Ms. Hornung enjoys an active recital career with recent performances including works by Brahms, Schumann, Schubert and Debussy, as well as Christmas, spiritual and folk repertoire. Lisa has toured the United States and Europe as a soloist and ensemble member with American Spiritual Ensemble.

In accordance with her belief that every child deserves the opportunity to sing Lisa runs a non-audition community youth choir and regularly collaborates with elementary and high school musical endeavours. She is the founder and director of Summer School for the Solo Voice and the vocal coach for the Cantilon and Bel Canto choirs.

Well known as a teacher, adjudicator, clinician and choral coach, Lisa lives in North Battleford with her husband John and their twins James and Larissa.

As an emerging professional singer, Mary Joy Nelson has enjoyed concert work opportunities for this year in Canada and the United States,

recently singing Handel’s Messiah with the Lexington Philharmonic in Lexington, Kentucky, as well as singing recitals for the Regina Musical Club’s 2009 concert series and for the Lyle Gustin Concert series in Saskatoon. In August 2009, she received a grant to study Italian language and opera at the I Bel Canto program in Verona, Italy where she enjoyed working with professionals from the Arena di Verona. Other opera and concert credits include: Micaela (Carmen, UKOT), First Lady (The Magic Flute, UKOT), The Fox (The Little Prince, UKOT), Zerlina (Don Giovanni, The Masterworks Festival), Papagena (The Magic Flute, The Masterworks Festival), Haydn’s Creation, Bach’s Magnificat, Vivaldi’s Gloria, and Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Currently a doctoral candidate, Miss Nelson graduated Summa cum laude from the MMus program at the University of Kentucky and previously completed a music education degree at the University of Regina. As well as performing, Miss Nelson has been teaching youth in the performing arts for over fifteen years. She is the founding director of the Academy of Creative Excellence for UK Opera Theatre and UKOT/KCTC Broadway Bound summer programs. This fall she served as the Youth Coordinator for the World Equestrian Games opening ceremonies, working with Global Creative Connection’s production team to assist 150 students in preparing to perform in the opening ceremonies of the World Equestrian Games in Lexington, KY.

meet the soloists

Tenor Michael Harris completed his Bachelor of Music at the University of Manitoba, and earned an Advanced Performance Diploma

at the Welsh College of Music and Drama. Michael’s operatic highlights include King Kaspar in Amahl and the Night Visitors with The Opera Troupe of Saskatoon, El Remendado in Carmen, Alfred in Die Fledermaus, Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni, and Borsa with the Saskatoon Opera Association (SOA) production of Rigoletto.

Highlights of Michael’s past oratorio performances include Haydn’s Missa in Angustiis (Saskatchewan Choral Federation), Mozart’s Coronation Mass (Regina Philharmonic Choir), Requiem (Gloucester Cathedral, UK), the Royal Winnipeg Ballet performance of Handel’s Messiah, the Saskatoon Chamber Singers production of Bach’s Kantate 131: Aus der Tiefen, and the Greystone Singers production of Bruckner’s Te Deum.

In addition to his operatic and oratorio performances, Michael is also a participant in Voci Strane, a local Early Music vocal collective. He currently resides in Saskatoon with his wife Taunya and children William and Branwen, where he maintains an active voice studio, and is an executive member of the Saskatchewan Registered Music Teachers’ Association. Michael is the Musical Director of the local francophone choir Choeur des plaines, and was Chorus Master of the SOA production of La Bohème.

Recent performances include a performance of Haydn’s Creation in Swift Current; as well as the Saskatchewan Music Festival Centennial performance of Sterndale Bennett’s May Queen.

Local baritone Jordie Hughton is thrilled to be performing Handel’s Messiah with Maestro Sawa and the Saskatoon Symphony!

In 2008, Jordie won the prestigious Gordon Wallis Opera Competition (Saskatchewan Music Festival Association), receiving a $5000 scholarship to be used toward further study. He also represented Saskatchewan at the National Music Festival in Edmonton. In 2006, Jordie was the recipient of the Kinsmen Vocal Scholarship, the highest honour attainable in the Saskatoon Music Festival.

In 2009, Jordie appeared in Edmonton as Guglielmo in Così fan tutte (Opera NUOVA). He has performed with Saskatoon Opera in Schools as the Father in Hansel and Gretel, Bart (Bartolo) in The Barber of Boomtown and Dandini in Cinderella.

Jordie has also been on stage with the Saskatoon Opera Chorus, Saskatoon Summer Players (Cinderella - Herald), and The Fireside Singers (Beauty and the Beast – Gaston, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – Pharaoh, and Children of Eden – Noah). In May 2011, Jordie will be performing in the Saskatoon Opera Tour of Mozart’s Odyssey.

Jordie has been a member of the National Youth Choir, the University of Saskatchewan Greystone Singers and is a regular soloist with the Saskatoon Fireside Singers. He currently studies with bass-baritone Garry Gable and coach Kathleen Lohrenz Gable.

meet the soloists

meet the choirs

SopranoWendy Barker

Carmen BeaumontRose Benson

Sharon DollanskyCeline Greyer

Jennifer Hannah-WoodwardBev Keys

Victoria KnorrMarusia Kobrynsky

Jean KozlowskiChris Pyra

Lou RackellCathy RichardsonCatherine Skinner

Ruth SolheimKelly Waters

AltoNena Byl

Naomi ClarkAmy Francais

JoAnne Kasper

Agi McQuaidJean PawlusChris Pollard

Sharon SchmidtAmelia Swiderski

Colleen TattonColleen Toye

Monica Yonan

TenorJeff Arndt

Don MacKinnonDon Skinner

Andre Van der Merwe

Bass/BaritoneJack Andrews

Clarence BriandHarvey BrownGarth HarrisonTom Kroczynski

Don LeitchStuart York

SopranoJacquie Ackerman

Lindy AntoniniAubree Bouchard

Kelsea McLeanBarb MilnerMaxine ReidPhyllis Rugg

Jillian Thiessen

AltoWanda Burbridge

Jillian CycaStarr Driedger

Adelle JohnsonLynne Mondue

Stephanie RideoutAnne Stephenson

TenorBradley CharlesPeter England

Derrick LeeJeremiah Scott

Tim Yoder

BassJohn EliasRod Epp

Brandon FrankJames Hawn

James HueserTim Hutchinson

Kevin KoreckiTaylor McLean

Ron SteerRob Yurkowski

Saskatoon Chamber Singers - directed by James Hawn

Gallery Singers - directed by Dianne Gryba

Rod Epp – Pianist

The Saskatoon Chamber Singers were founded in 1977 by a group of former Greystone Singers who wanted to continue singing in a quality choral ensemble. The choir has been a finalist in both the CBC choral competition for amateur choirs and the International Choral Kathaumixw in Powell River, British Columbia, and participated in the non-competitive Festival 500 in St. John’s Newfoundland. They have also been the guest choir at Saskatchewan Sings, and sang at the installation of Lynda Haverstock (a former member) as Lieutenant-Governor of Saskatchewan. Most recently, the choir performed at Podium, the biennial conference of the Association of Canadian Choral Communities, held in Saskatoon last May: first at a joint “spotlight” concert with the Saskatoon Children’s Choir, and then as the chorus for Mary Lou Fallis and Peter Tiefenbach’s Primadonna Choralis, a comedic look at the history of choral music.

The choir’s repertoire has been rich in variety since its establishment, and Canadian music has always been an important component of the choir’s programming.

Perhaps best known for their annual Remembrance Day concert, the schedule is generally rounded out by a seasonal concert in December or January, and

one or two concerts in late winter and spring with varying themes. Remaining concerts this season include “A Feast of Praise” on February 13, featuring organ and brass; and “Ditties and Delights” on April 17.

Visit www.saskatoonchambersingers.ca for more information about the choir.

James Hawn taught English language arts, music and drama with the Saskatoon Public School Division for thirty-two years and directed numerous choral groups, musicals and plays during that time. From 1998-2002 he was arts education consultant. In 1976 he founded the vocal group Solstice. James was director of Knox Church Choir for ten years and has directed for Saskatoon Gateway Players and Saskatoon Summer Players. He was a member of the Saskatchewan Choral Federation board and is on the board of the ACCC (Association of Canadian Choral Communities). He has just finished seven years on the board of TCU Place (one as president), and a five year term as chair of the Cultural Advisory Committee for SaskCulture. He is on the board of the Friends of the Broadway Theatre and sits on the National Technical Committee for Skills Canada. James was a member of the Saskatoon Chamber Singers for many years before becoming its director.

meet the saskatoon chamber singers

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Gallery Singers of North Battleford was established in 1990 by Dianne Gryba, who is a former chorister and accompanist with the Saskatoon Chamber Singers and the U of S Greystone Singers. Moving to North Battleford from Saskatoon in 1989, Dianne wanted to create an opportunity there for vocalists to explore fine choral music. Gallery Singers was formed, and has grown to include about 40 singers from the Battlefords and communities as distant as Turtleford and Kindersley.

Gallery Singers performs at local events and presents two concerts each season, often collaborating with guest instrumentalists. Their repertoire includes standard choral works as well as music by Canadian composers. The choristers were honoured to perform a work written for them by Saskatchewan musician, Paul Suchan, in 2007. Gallery Singers has won several provincial awards from the Saskatchewan Music Festival Association. Most importantly, the choir provides people with an opportunity to sing together. Anyone is welcome to join.

Dianne Gryba resides in North Battleford, SK where she works as a teacher, accompanist and choral director. She holds a Master of Arts degree from the University of Saskatchewan where she studied piano with Robin Harrison. Dianne

plays as often as possible with her duo partner, Bonnie Nicholson, and the two regularly join Wayne Toews in presenting Saito conducting workshops in Canada and the United States.

Dianne has a great love of choral music, and she conducts several groups in the Battlefords including the Gallery Singers, and the Battlefords Children’s Choirs.  The children’s program involves three choirs, and they are co-directed by JoAnne Kasper. The senior auditioned group, Kamala, has been honoured with numerous local and provincial awards since its formation in 2000. These young singers often travel to collaborate with other choristers in Canada and beyond.

Ms. Gryba adjudicates festivals and facilitates workshops in the prairie provinces. She enjoys the rich variety in her musical life, and is always enriched by the talented musicians she meets. Dianne and her husband, Greg, continue to be involved in the lives of their three grown children.

meet the gallery singers

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program notesHandel’s Messiah is a presentation of Jesus’s life and its significance according to Christian doctrine. The name of the oratorio is taken from the Abrahamic concept of the Messiah (“the anointed one”). In Christianity, Jesus is the Messiah.

Although the work was conceived for secular theatre and was first performed during Lent, it has become common practice since Handel’s death to perform Messiah during Advent, the preparatory period of the Christmas season. Messiah is often performed in churches as well as in concert halls. Christmas concerts often feature only the first section of Messiah plus the “Hallelujah” chorus. The work is also heard at Eastertide, and selections containing resurrection themes are often included in Easter services.

The work is divided into three parts which address specific events in the life of Christ.

Part One is primarily concerned with the Advent and Christmas stories. Part Two chronicles Christ’s passion, resurrection, ascension, and the evangelization to the world of the Christian message. Part Three is based primarily upon the events chronicled in the Book of Revelation. Although Messiah deals with the New Testament story of Christ’s life, a majority of the texts used to tell the story were selected from the Old Testament prophetic books of Isaiah, Haggai, Malachi, and others.

The soprano aria “I know that my Redeemer liveth” is frequently heard at Christian funerals. It is believed that parts of this aria were the basis of the composition of the Westminster Quarters. Above Handel’s grave in Westminster Abbey is a monument (1762) where the musician’s statue holds the musical score of the same aria.

The Greater Battlefords needs a performing arts centre!What are the benefits to the community?

A facility with full staging and rehearsal spaces, seating up to 374 people would provide:• Increased quality of events • Increased comfort, acoustics, staging and support spaces • Increased number and types of performing events • New space for First Nations events• An additional venue for special events like trade shows, conferences & conventions.

A performing arts centre will be used extensively by residents of the entire region.

LET’S RAISE THE ROOF!

A donation to the Battlefords “Raise the Roof!” campaign is a wonderful way for you to make a difference in our community. All donations receipted through the Battlefords & District Community Foundation Inc. or the City of North Battleford.

www.raisetheroofbattlefords.com

“The object of art is to give life a shape.”Shakespeare wrote these words centuries ago, but they

remain true today: art, in all its forms, shapes our community.

RUSSIAN ROMANCE Masters SeriesMartin Leung piano, Maestro Victor Sawa conductorSome of the world’s most romantic and exotic music! YouTube sensation and Video Games Live star, classical pianist Martin Leung shows his passionate side. P. Tchaikovsky Polonaise “Evgeny Onegin” Piano Concerto No. 1N. Rimsky-Korsakov Scheherazade

It’s HOTon the SSO stagethis winter!

Saturday, January 15TCU Place, Sid Buckwold Theatre, 7:30 pm

Saturday, January 29Third Avenue United Church, 7:30 pm

BACH AND BEYOND Chamber Orchestra SeriesGuy Few trumpet, Maestro Victor Sawa conductor One of the most brilliant brass players of his generation (Toronto Star). Guy Few returns for an evening of trumpet virtuosity and creative genius with the masters of baroque. J. S. Bach Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F MajorG. Handel Concerto Grosso Op. 6 No. 1, Royal Fireworks Music A. Corelli Christmas Concerto in G minor

saskatoonsymphony.org (306) 665-6414

Tickets: TCU Place Box Office, saskatoonsymphony.org or 975-7799

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