{"id":113969,"date":"2025-05-01T10:27:05","date_gmt":"2025-05-01T14:27:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=113969"},"modified":"2025-05-01T14:00:02","modified_gmt":"2025-05-01T18:00:02","slug":"preview-pax-christi-chorale-ends-season-ambitious-world-premiere","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2025\/05\/01\/preview-pax-christi-chorale-ends-season-ambitious-world-premiere\/","title":{"rendered":"PREVIEW | Pax Christi Chorale Ends Their Season With An Ambitious World Premiere"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Pax
Pax Christi Chorale with conductor Dr. Elaine Choi (Photo courtesy of Pax Christi Chorale)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Pax Christi Chorale\u2019s season finale concert will feature a new and ambitious work by Timothy Takach, We Are Phoenix.<\/p>\n

This multi-movement work for choir, string quartet, and video projections was commissioned by a consortium of 45 choirs from the UK, USA, and Canada. Pax is one of the participating choirs and will be giving the Toronto premiere on May 10.<\/p>\n

Timothy Takach, We Are Phoenix<\/h3>\n

Takach is an accomplished composer, especially known for his large scale works for choir that are often inspired by the intersection of the natural, imagined, and human worlds. His music is often lyrical with rich harmonies, perhaps reflecting his tenure as a singer with the professional vocal ensemble, Cantus.<\/p>\n

We Are Phoenix is particularly poignant given our current zeitgeist, as society is focused on environmentalism and its human anxieties. Earth and its enduring resilience are Takach\u2019s inspiration, and he parallels the human condition to the ruin and renewal of the Earth.<\/p>\n

In this new work, Takach has incorporated material from his existing catalog, such as\u00a0Nubes Oriebatur: the eruption of Vesuvius\u00a0and\u00a0Ragnar\u00f6k. The former describes an account of the famous volcano\u2019s eruption by Pliny the Younger (61-112AD). The later, \u201cDoom of the Gods\u201d, weaves together the Norse myth of the destruction of the world and rebirth with a contemporary scene of a community evacuating from a wildfire.<\/p>\n

Pax\u2019s Artistic Director, Dr. Elaine Choi<\/strong> remarks, \u201cRagnar\u00f6k evokes an atmosphere of mystery and tension, with chanting from the low voices. As the treble voices ascend, there is a glimmer of hope\u2014suggesting renewal and light emerging from darkness.\u201d<\/p>\n

She adds, \u201cEach movement invites the listener into a reflective and emotionally resonant soundscape.\u201d<\/p>\n

In contrast to the destructive forces of nature, there are very intimate and personal moments as well, such as the movement \u201cDigging Up a Rose\u201d, with text by Caitlin Vincent<\/strong>, who was also the librettist for Takach\u2019s opera, \u201cComputing Venus\u201d. Choi describes this movement as, \u201cearnest and utterly charming. \u00a0It captures a sense of innocence and quiet wonder with great sincerity.\u201d<\/p>\n

The text is drawn from many diverse sources to shape a narrative. The poetry is rich with imagery and deep with emotion.<\/p>\n

The collaborators include Odin Quartet<\/strong> for this piece.<\/p>\n

\"R:
L: Composer Timothy Takach (Photo: Soona); R: Pax Christi Chorale conductor Dr. Elaine Choi (Photo courtesy of the artist)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Canadian Composers<\/h3>\n

Choi adds, \u201cOn the same concert program, we will showcase a diverse selection of works in the first half, with a special focus on Canadian composers such as Frank Horvat<\/strong>, Mishaal Surti<\/strong>, and Indigenous composer Sherryl Sewepagaham<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are particularly excited to present two pieces by members of our artistic team: collaborative pianist Joshua Tamayo<\/strong> and choral scholar Clara Moniz<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n

This program captures the spirit of our current moment, mirroring both our struggles and, even more importantly, our resilience.<\/p>\n

As spring signals renewal, so too does this music.<\/p>\n