For classical music lovers in Toronto, concert offerings tend towards Messiah, Messiah, and more Messiah, with perhaps a sprinkling of Bach’s Christmas Oratorio. Apochryphonia and The Canadian Institute for Czech Music have teamed up to bring audiences something different — a Bohemian Holiday on November 30.
The program consists of music that was written in the Czech Republic during the 17th and 18th centuries. The composers in question may not be nearly as familiar to most North American classical music aficionados as Handel or Bach, making the concert a wonderful opportunity to discover new favourites.
The program includes major composers of the of the Czech Baroque, including Jan Dismas Zelenka, Pavel Josef Vejvanovský, Bohuslav Matěj Černohorský, and Antonín Reichenauer, the latter in a North American premiere. František Brixi and Jakub Jan Ryba represent music from the Classical period of Czech music.
An ensemble of Toronto talent will take the stage, including soprano Grace Quinsey, mezzo-soprano Catharin Carew, tenor Alexander Cappellazzo, and bass-baritone John Holland. Christopher Dawes plays the organ, with Matheus Coelho conducting a chamber orchestra.
A Czech Christmas
Czech culture has a distinctive take on the Christmas story. Most Christmas tales or Betlémy (Czech nativity scenes) take the nativity story and bring it into a familiar Czech locale such as a city or castle. The shepherds become Czech characters. When it comes to the animals, Betlémy sometimes bring exotic animals such as elephants into the picture.
It’s an imaginative take on the classic Christmas scenario, with the goal of making the holiday story into the community, and offering a personal connection.
The Music
Czech Baroque
Zelenka: Magnificat in D
Advent is the time for Magnificats. Zelenka’s, with its dynamic first movement, lyrical second movement, and Amen fugue, is arranged for Soprano (Quinsey) and Alto (Carew) soloists, SATB, and orchestra.
Vejvanovksý: Salve Regina
A trumpeter as well as a composer, it’s not surprising that Pavel Josef Vejvanovský is perhaps best known for his brass writing. This piece is scored for bass voice (Holland) and strings.
Černohorský: Toccata in C
Bohuslav Matěj Černohorský was well known as an organist, and composer for the organ, in his time, and is often dubbed “The Bohemian Bach”. Christopher Dawes will perform his rich Toccata in C.
Reichenaur: O Coeli Rorate
Little is known about the life of Antonín Reichenauer, other than the fact that he was a choirmaster, composer, and organist who died at the young age of 35 or 36. As such, he’s little known outside of the Czech Republic. His music is likened to that of Vivaldi, and his soprano aria O Coeli Rorate will be performed by Grace Quinsey and the string ensemble in a North American premiere.
Classical Czech
All four singers (Quinsey, Carew, Cappellazzo, and Holland) will perform the two works from the Classical era.
Brixi: Motetto Pastoritium
Mozart was extremely popular in the Czech lands, and that influence can be heard in this piece, which depicts shepherds in the fields waking up and deciding to make their way to Bethlehem.
Česká mše vánoční ‘Czech Christmas Mass’
This classic Christmas piece is sung in the Czech language, and also harkens a Mozartian sound world. A liturgical text in Czech combines with Betlém style storytelling. In it, a peasant tenor (Cappellazzo) wakes up his master to tell him that they must go to Bethlehem to witness Jesus’ birth, and let everyone along the way know about their journey. The organ is at the heart of the instrumentation, blended with strings, winds, and brass.
The Performers
Grace Quinsey, soprano
A native of Windsor, Ontario, Grace’s recent performances include the role of Josephine in HMS Pinafore, and Giannetta in L’elisir d’amore, both with Opera York, and Mařenka in Smetana’s Prodaná nevěsta in the Year of Czech Music Opera Festival.
Catherine Carew, mezzo-soprano
With a Masters of Music in Vocal Performance both from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London England and McGill University, Catherin’s roles have included premiering the role of Maeve in Ana Sokolovic’s The Midnight Court at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden with Queen of Puddings Music Theatre.
Alexander Cappellazzo, tenor
Alexander has performed roles including Tamino, Nemorino, Lensky, Acis, Don Ottavio, Oronte, and Vasek, and performed with Opera Atelier, VOICEBOX: Opera In Concert, Toronto City Opera, and Toronto Operetta Theatre, among others. He is the founder of the Apocryphonia Concert Series and the Diapente Renaissance Vocal Quintet, both dedicated to presenting underperformed classical works.
John Holland, bass-baritone
John Holland’s operatic roles include Figaro in Le Nozze di Figaro at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Leporello and Masetto in Don Giovanni at the Estates Theatre in Prague, and Vodník in Rusalka in the Czech Republic. In addition to his performing career, John is the president and founder of the Canadian Institute for Czech Music, and Artistic Director of the Toronto Classical Singers as well as Opera York, and Music Director of Blessed Trinity Parish.
Christopher Dawes, organ
Freelance church, choral and theatre musician Christopher Dawes is the Lead Musician at the Church of St. George-the-Martyr. As a performer he has toured, been recorded, and broadcast through the US and Europe. The former organist and Director of Music at Toronto’s St. James Cathedral, he has worked and toured extensively with choirs n the U.S.A., Ireland, Hungary, Slovakia and Austria.
Matheus Coelho, conductor
Brazilian conductor Matheus Coelho is a doctorate student at the University of Toronto. His wide ranging repertoire includes symphonic, choral, and operatic music. In addition to conducting, he is also a clarinetist and vocalist.
The Concert
Bohemian Holiday takes place on Sunday, November 30 at Christ Church Deer Park.
- Find other concert details and tickets [HERE].
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