{"id":101636,"date":"2024-02-07T15:18:46","date_gmt":"2024-02-07T20:18:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=101636"},"modified":"2024-02-08T11:33:45","modified_gmt":"2024-02-08T16:33:45","slug":"preview-hamiltons-bach-elgar-choir-focus-handels-choral-masterpieces","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2024\/02\/07\/preview-hamiltons-bach-elgar-choir-focus-handels-choral-masterpieces\/","title":{"rendered":"PREVIEW |  Hamilton\u2019s Bach Elgar Choir Focus On Handel\u2019s Choral Masterpieces"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_101637\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-101637\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-101637\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/02\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-4.jpg\" alt=\"L-R: Bethany H\u00f6rst, soprano; Jean-Philippe Lazure, tenor; Artistic Director Andrew McCann (Photos courtesy of the artists)\" width=\"1200\" height=\"628\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/02\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-4.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/02\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-4-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/02\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-4-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/02\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-4-768x402.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-101637\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">L-R: Bethany H\u00f6rst, soprano; Jean-Philippe Lazure, tenor; Artistic Director Alexander Cann (Photos courtesy of the artists)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Handel\u2019s choral masterpieces come under the spotlight in an upcoming concert by The Bach Elgar Choir. George Frederic Handel\u2019s Choral Masterpieces takes place on March 9 at the Ancaster Memorial Arts Centre west of downtown Hamilton.<\/p>\n<p>The Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra will accompany the choir, with soloists soprano Bethany H\u00f6rst and tenor Jean-Philippe Lazure.<\/p>\n<h2>Choir &amp; Soloists<\/h2>\n<p>The Bach Elgar Choir is a Hamilton institution, founded in 1905. BEC Artistic Director Alexander Cann leads the choir. BEC is one of Canada\u2019s oldest arts organizations, and has a distinguished history.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The Bach Elgar Choir premiered Verdi\u2019s Requiem in North America;<\/li>\n<li>The Choir has commissioned many works from Canadian composers such as Nathanial Dett and Matthew Emery, among others;<\/li>\n<li>The organization presents imaginative programming, such as their acclaimed live soundtrack to Fritz Lang\u2019s iconic film Metropolis.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Artistic Director Alexander Cann<\/h3>\n<p>Choral conductor, pianist and teacher Alexander Cann earned a B.A. from McMaster University, and an M.Mus. from McGill. He has been Artistic Director of Bach Elgar for 14 seasons. Under his leadership, the choir has put the major works of Bach and Mozart at the centre of its repertoire. The works of Edward Elgar continue to be added to that growing list of works.<\/p>\n<p>His initiatives includes programs such as the Baroque Opera Choruses, Canadian Folksongs, and Music from World War One, among others. Along with his work for the Bach Elgar Choir, he is Director of Music with Melrose United Church in Hamilton.<\/p>\n<h3>Jean-Philippe Lazure, tenor<\/h3>\n<p>A graduate of the Canadian Opera Company\u2019s Ensemble Studio, tenor Jean-Philippe Lazure is a sought after soloist and opera singer. During his time with the Ensemble Studio, he sang the role of Don Curzio in the COC production of Le Nozze di Figaro, and Conte Almaviva in Il Barbiere di Siviglia. He went on to perform Cartier and Father Andre\u0301 in the Canadian Opera Company\u2019s production of Louis Riel in Toronto, Ottawa and Quebec.<\/p>\n<p>Recent engagements include performances with the Winnipeg Symphony in Handel\u2019s Solomon, as a soloist with the Ottawa Choral Society, and in the world premiere of Water: An Oratorio (Martin) with Grand Philharmonic Choir.<\/p>\n<h3>Bethany H\u00f6rst, soprano<\/h3>\n<p>Bethany H\u00f6rst holds a Master of Music degree in Literature and Performance from Western University, where she currently teaches voice. She is the winner of several international competitions, including the Lyndon Woodside Oratorio Solo Competition at Carnegie Hall in New York City, and first prize at the NYCO Mozart Competition, the International Aria Competition, the Opera Lyra Ottawa Studio Competition and Conservatory Canada\u2019s Vocal Competition.<\/p>\n<p>As a professional vocalist, she has appeared across Canada, as well as in France and the Netherlands. Her repertoire includes works from the Baroque through Classical and contemporary eras.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_101638\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-101638\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-101638\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/02\/Copy-of-LEBRECHT-8.jpg\" alt=\"L-R: The Bach Elgar Choir (Photo courtesy of BEC); Handel (Public domain image)\" width=\"1200\" height=\"628\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/02\/Copy-of-LEBRECHT-8.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/02\/Copy-of-LEBRECHT-8-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/02\/Copy-of-LEBRECHT-8-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/02\/Copy-of-LEBRECHT-8-768x402.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-101638\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">L-R: The Bach Elgar Choir (Photo courtesy of BEC); Handel (Public domain image)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>The Concert<\/h2>\n<p>The program will focus on the choral works of Handel that were completed prior to the Baroque blockbuster Messiah.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s a treasure trove of work. Handel composed his first set of motets and cantatas in 1707 in his early 20s, shortly after his first opera Almira (also called Nero) in 1704 at the age of 19. Messiah wouldn\u2019t be created until 1741. The decades in between were a rich period where he composed a variety of both secular and sacred choral music, including hymns, songs, and oratorios.<\/p>\n<p>Along with the music, the audience will hear details from Handel\u2019s life, and some of the stories behind the music.<\/p>\n<p>Details about the concert and tickets available [<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/secure1.tixhub.com\/memorialarts\/online\/b_otix.asp?cboPerformances=334&amp;cboEvent=164&amp;iEvents_id=164\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HERE<\/a><\/strong>].<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Are you looking to promote an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/advertising\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0e101a\"><u>event<\/u><\/span><\/a>? 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