Guelph Chamber Choir presents our founding conductor’s farewell concert, Brahms’ A German Requiem Brahms wanted his Requiem not to
be a mass for the dead, but a celebration for the living. His purpose in composing the piece in German,
rather than the usual liturgical Latin, was so that he could set music to words
reflecting on the brevity of life and the loving path from anxiety to
comfort. Brahms considered the piece A
Human Requiem.
Gerald Neufeld noted, “I’m very
happy to be performing A German Requiem as my final concert
as Music Director of the Guelph Chamber Choir.
Former choir members and other friends will augment the choir for this
performance. Having studied extensively
in Germany in my youth, I have returned to Brahms’ masterwork over the years
and it never fails to reveal new mysteries and layers of meaning through study
and preparation. Soulful melodies,
ingenious harmonic progressions and undulating dynamics build and release
tension, resulting in a work of unparalleled beauty that expresses what words
cannot.” The Requiem has some of the
most remarkable music of comfort and hope, while still acknowledging the loss
we experience in death. Joining the choir are two
outstanding Canadian soloists, internationally acclaimed baritone Daniel Lichti and rising-star, soprano Sheila Dietrich; both residing in the local area. Mr. Lichti, an Associate Professor of Voice for the Faculty of Music at Wilfrid
Laurier University, continues to inspire admiration for the beauty, warmth
and richness of his voice and respect for the dignity and sincerity of his
interpretations. The choir is pleased to
bring back Sheila Dietrich, a former section leader in the choir. In 2015, Ms. Dietrich made her Carnegie Hall debut where, as a
finalist in the 2015 New York Oratorio
Society Solo Competition, she was awarded the Johannes Somary Prize. Her
effortless soaring soprano voice is noted for its pure and sincere beauty.
Dr Neufeld, while looking
forward to retirement, will remain as Artistic Director of the Guelph Chamber
Choir next year during the choir’s search for a new conductor. The first two concerts in the Fall of 2018
will feature the finalists of the search as guest conductors during a year of
transition to a new Artistic Director.
Single tickets for Brahms’ A
German Requiem on Saturday, March
31, 2018 at 7:30 pm at the River Run
Centre are now available for only $35
each or 4 for $120. We encourage
young adults to attend with $10 tickets for
students and those 30 and under,and only $5 for youth 14
and under orwith eyeGO (high school picture ID required).
Special thanks to our concert
sponsors: The Kitchener and Waterloo
Community Foundation: Ken Murray Fund and RN Manufacturing as well as our soloist sponsor Stantec.
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