{"id":22858,"date":"2013-09-17T10:06:48","date_gmt":"2013-09-17T16:06:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/?p=22858"},"modified":"2013-09-17T11:44:24","modified_gmt":"2013-09-17T17:44:24","slug":"utah-chamber-artists-voices","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/utah-chamber-artists-voices\/","title":{"rendered":"Utah Chamber Artists’ Voices"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Jannifer Hemingway Wood<\/em><\/p>\n

\"View<\/a>

View from the organ at the Cathedral of the Madeleine during intermission Monday, September 16th.<\/p><\/div>\n

The Cathedral of the Madeleine opened its doors Monday evening to members in the community to come and enjoy not only the inspiring beauty of its structure, but as well, the stunning and moving talent of the Utah Chamber Artists and other musical guests under the direction of Dr. Barlow Bradford. \u00a0I\u2019m still feeling blown away by the astounding music I had the pleasure to experience over an hour after returning from the concert: Voices<\/em>.<\/p>\n

The evening began with an intense and stirring performance of \u201cGod of Our Fathers\u201d by both the choir and orchestra and even the audience was included in singing one verse. \u00a0The echoes of the falling and rising melody of a multitude of voices was an all encompassing experience for one standing in the middle of the Cathedral.<\/p>\n

The concert continued with a violin solo by David Porter, who played \u201cGavotee en Rondeau from Partia No. 3 in E Major for Solo Violin\u201d by Bach. \u00a0The lights dimmed during this performance and the glow from the outside street lights sparked the stained glass windows to illuminating life. \u00a0The soothing tone of the violin that filled the walls of the cathedral along with the exquisite religious glass scenes shining overhead made this performance nothing short of magical.<\/p>\n

The concert offered an array of musical performances including piano and organ solos, orchestral pieces, choral arrangements, vocal duets and solos and more.\u00a0 A variety of composers were represented from all over the world, ranging from the world-famous Bach, Benjamin Britten, and Italian Carlo Gesualdo, to more contemporary composers such as \u00a0Dale Warland, and the Latvian Vytautas Miskinis and Eriks Esenvalds. \u00a0Arrangements by director Dr. Bradford of more familiar hymns were also performed. \u00a0A span of styles from clear and sweet to powerful and complicated was shared. \u00a0I felt I was at a dessert buffet, getting the chance to get a taste of each treat and still wanting more.<\/p>\n

The concert moved quickly from piece to be piece as lighting director, Christopher Dance, highlighted the different performers who moved throughout the cathedral. \u00a0This wasn\u2019t your typical choral concert with the choir standing at the head of the hall. \u00a0Different performances were held in an assortment of areas in the main hall of the cathedral, giving the audience, no matter where they were seated, the opportunity to have front row seats for a song or two. \u00a0This kept the concert very fluid and engaging.<\/p>\n

Many pieces stood out to me for various reasons. \u00a0I found Miskinis\u2019s \u201cPater Noster,\u201d \u00a0which was the Lord\u2019s Prayer sung in Latin, haunting with its interchanging parts and multiple rhythms. I was amazed by Jason Hardink\u2019s remarkable piano solo of Bach\u2019s \u201cThe Concerto I in D minor, BWV 1052.\u201d The program described this performance as \u201cthe very challenging first movement\u201d of this particular concerto. \u00a0\u201cVery challenging\u201d seemed like an understatement to me. \u00a0Having taken a few piano lessons in my life, I can at least understand the skill and precision that was required for the flying scales and chords of this beautiful song.<\/p>\n

The second half of the concert brought a strong solo by baritone Michael Chipman, who sang \u201cSanglots\u201d by Francis Poulenc. \u00a0The lyrics of the song were comprised of poems by poet Guillaume Apollinaire, a French Surrealist, who focused on the moods and emotional range of human love.<\/p>\n

I also enjoyed the Salt Lake City premiere of the contemporary choral piece \u201cThe Voices\u201d by Dale Warland. \u00a0The harmonies of the choir were rich and the accompaniment of John Eckstein on the cello was poignant.\u00a0 The poetic lyrics that were printed in the program were thought provoking, which added great depth to this song.<\/p>\n

I found the \u201cCantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten\u201d by Arvo Part, performed by the string orchestra and bells, absolutely gorgeous. \u00a0It was easy to get lost in the descending scales that felt like serene waves flooding the hall.<\/p>\n

Melinda Kirigin-Voss and Melou Stewart Cline sounded angelic in their breathtaking duet in \u201cO Salutaris\u201d by Eriks Esenvalds. \u00a0This seems quite fitting considering this is part of \u201cthe sacred music repertoire of Roman Catholicism,\u201d according to the program. \u00a0The choir wove rich harmonies that sustained and supported the two main vocalists.<\/p>\n

The evening ended with the lovely \u201cSine Nomine\u201d arranged by Dr. Bradford. \u00a0The audience was again invited to join in on some of the verses of this hymn. Though most audience members don\u2019t have the vocal range of those in the choir, the many voices singing together still filled the whole space with joyful \u201cAlleluias\u201d.<\/p>\n

Overall, the whole concert was splendid and enriching. \u00a0I felt uplifted as I left the cathedral that night. \u00a0I don\u2019t think I was the only one who felt this way, as I heard snippets of conversations from others in attendance. \u00a0In my opinion, I felt the first half of the concert was stronger than the second half, but still both sections were beautiful.<\/p>\n

The Utah Chamber Artists will perform one more evening for the community on Tuesday, September 17th at 8pm in the Cathedral of the Madeleine. \u00a0Not only do they give a stunning performance, but this is their one free concert each year. \u00a0This evening\u2019s concert is an opportunity that members of the community should not pass up.<\/b><\/p>\n