Thursday, February 11, 2016

Cathedral Choral Society Presents All-Vivaldi Concert

Bach Consort (Photo: David Betts)

From our friends at the Cathedral Choral Society...

Washington Bach Consort Joins for a Celebration of Vivaldi’s Music

The Cathedral Choral Society will present the third concert of its 2015/16 season, Vivaldi Gloria, on February 21 at 4:00 PM. The Cathedral Choral Society, conducted by Music Director J. Reilly Lewis, will be joined by the orchestra of the Washington Bach Consort, as well as soloists Meg Owens, oboe; Josh Cohen, trumpet; Jennifer Ellis Kampani, soprano; Robin Beckman, soprano; Roger Isaacs, countertenor; Patrick Kilbride, tenor; and Karl Hempel, bass.

The program will focus exclusively on the music of Antonio Vivaldi. Famously nicknamed “The Red Priest” for his brightly colored hair, Vivaldi spent most of his life teaching, conducting, and composing brilliant works at the Ospedale della Pieta in Venice, an orphanage and music school for girls. Works performed on this program are his Concerto for Oboe and Trumpet, RV 563; Nulla in mundo pax sincera, RV 630, a motet for orchestra and soprano soloist; and Dixit Dominus, RV 595, a setting of Psalm 109/110, used in the liturgy of Vespers. The Introduzione: Ostro picta, RV 642 leads into the famous opening of Vivaldi’s jubilant Gloria in D Major, RV 589.

The Washington Bach Consort, founded in 1977 by Cathedral Choral Society Music Director J. Reilly Lewis, joins the chorus for this performance. The Consort is a critically acclaimed ensemble committed to the performance of works by Bach and his contemporaries, and has appeared at numerous festivals and made three European tours. The Consort performs exclusively on Baroque-era instruments.

“Having these two ensembles on the same stage is a rare treat,” said Cathedral Choral Society Executive Director Genevieve Twomey. “We are excited to have them come together for this joyful, vibrant tribute to Vivaldi.”

The Cathedral Choral Society is pleased to feature Washington Bach Consort soloists Meg Owens, oboe and Josh Cohen, trumpet on the Concerto for Oboe and Trumpet. Soprano Jennifer Ellis Kampani will be the featured soloist on Nulla in mundo pax sincera and Introduzione: Ostro picta. Soloists Robin Beckman, soprano; Roger Isaacs, countertenor; Patrick Kilbride, tenor; and Karl Hempel, bass will join on the Gloria.

A pre-concert talk will be presented at 3:00 PM in Perry Auditorium (seventh floor in the Cathedral’s tower). Musicians from the Washington Bach Consort (Meg Owens, oboe; Josh Cohen, trumpet; and Paul Miller, viola) will discuss historically informed performance practices, and differences between early and modern instruments.

About the Cathedral Choral Society:
The Cathedral Choral Society is the resident symphonic chorus of Washington National Cathedral. Now in its 74th season, the 140-voice chorus presents an inspiring concert season at the Cathedral and shares the joy of choral singing throughout the Greater Washington, DC Area through its community engagement programs.

For Tickets: 
Regularly priced tickets begin at $25. Tickets for children and students with valid ID under the age of 25 are $15. Seniors, veteran, and military may receive 10% off (excludes Premium Nave). Free surface parking is available on the Cathedral grounds; $10 event parking is available in the Cathedral garage. To purchase tickets, or for additional information, please call (202) 537-2228 or visit the website www.cathedralchoralsociety.org.

At a Glance:
• Cathedral Choral Society: Vivaldi Gloria with the Washington Bach Consort - Sunday, February 21, 4:00 PM, Washington National Cathedral
• On the program: Vivaldi’s Concerto for Oboe and Trumpet, Nulla in mundo pax sincera, Dixit Dominus, Introduzione: Ostro picta, and Gloria in D Major
J. Reilly Lewis, conductor
• Soloists: Meg Owens, oboe; Josh Cohen, trumpet; Jennifer Ellis Kampani, soprano; Robin Beckman, soprano; Roger Isaacs, countertenor; and Karl Hempel, bass
• Tickets range $25-77; students and youth are $15. Senior, military, and veteran discount available.
• Pre-concert conversation with Washington Bach Consort musicians Meg Owens, oboe; Josh Cohen, trumpet; and Paul Miller; viola. Perry Auditorium in the Cathedral tower, 3:00 PM.