The Saint Vincent Camerata celebrates its 50th anniversary season in 2018-2019.
“We are confident there’s no better way to celebrate this milestone than by giving homage to the mission of our founding and sustaining institution, Saint Vincent Archabbey, with performances of great choral classics,” said Father Stephen Concordia, O.S.B., camerata director.
“Our first program, on November 3 and 4, recognizes the Catholic inheritance of Saint Vincent Archabbey with a program featuring two monumental choral works of the Baroque period,” he said. “The ‘Gloria’ of Vivaldi, hands down his most popular and most frequently performed sacred choral work, is also a defining example of the Catholic Church’s contribution to sacred Baroque art. Vivaldi’s style here is always, and immediately, pleasing, accessible, and thrilling.
“Handel composed his setting of Psalm 109 ‘Dixit Dominus’ during his student years in the cultural centers of Catholic Italy,” Father Stephen said. “This work, which shows his ingenious assimilation of Catholic Italian Baroque style, is considered Handel’s first true masterpiece, composed at the young age of 22.
The Camerata will present this program with the renowned early music ensemble Chatham Baroque, performing in a chamber orchestra formation of ten musicians.
On December 8, the Camerata will present its annual Festival of Lessons & Carols.
“Our most popular event of the year,” Father Stephen said, “this uplifting service—in the spirit of Benedictine hospitality—has something for everyone.”
In February, 2019 at a date still to be determined, the Camerata will present a program of choral settings of American poetry. Representing the diversity and resilience of the American spirit, this program will celebrate Saint Vincent’s roots and offshoots as expressed by American poets of the past and present.
Culminating the Camerata’s 50th Anniversary Season, and with homage to Saint Vincent Archabbey’s German roots, he noted, “we will offer performances of ‘A German Requiem’ by Johannes Brahms. Completed in 1868, it immediately became world famous, and has remained a staple of the choral repertoire. Brahms conceived his Requiem primarily as a work for large chorus and full orchestra, but due to its popularity he arranged the work for chamber choir and piano duet, the version that we will perform, and one that creates a more intimate and transparent experience of the piece. The work is in seven movements, with words chosen from sacred scripture by the composer himself. The Khasma Piano Duo, with pianists Ashlee Mack and Katie Palumbo, will join the Camerata, and soloists Lara Cottrill-McGill, soprano, and Daniel Teadt, baritone, for performances of the German Requiem on April 6 and 7, 2019.
“We invite you to join us in celebrating our 50th Anniversay!”
To request a brochure or for more information please contact Father Stephen at stephen.concordia@stvincent.edu.
SAINT VINCENT CAMERATA
AND CHATHAM BAROQUE
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2018
Vivaldi “Gloria”
Handel “Dixit Dominus”
7:30 p.m., Saint Vincent
Archabbey Basilica
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2018
SAINT VINCENT CAMERATA
Handel’s Messiah
7 p.m., Saint Vincent
Archabbey Basilica
For reservations: 724-805-2177
