Program:
Vivaldi: Concerto for Two Trumpets in C Major
Will Ebeler and Aaron Shuler, trumpet
Jonathan Spatola-Knoll, student conductor
Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) was a composer from the early Baroque era who revolutionized the concerto genre. Known for the now ubiquitous “Four Seasons” suite, Vivaldi spent a considerable amount of his life at the Conservatorio dell’Ospedale Della Pieta, in which he fostered the musical talents of orphaned girls. This piece features lively interplay between the two solo trumpets in dextrous, somersaulting joviality.
Weber: Missa Sancta No. 1 E-Flat Major
Shawnette Sulker, soprano
Celeste Winant, alto
Jonathan Nadel, tenor
Malcolm MacKenzie, baritone
Jonathan Spatola-Knoll, student conductor
Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826) is best known for his landmark Romantic Opera Der Freischütz. Though a key component in the Romantic repertoire, much less is known among the general public about his church music works. Much is said in the history books regarding his failing health, but not so much about his spirituality. Missa Sancta No. 1 E-Flat Major offers a firsthand look into his contributions to the Catholic repertoire.
Orff: Carmina Burana
Shawnette Sulker, soprano
Jonathan Nadel, tenor
Malcolm MacKenzie, baritone
Jeffrey Thomas, conductor
Carl Orff’s (1895-1982) legendary work for large orchestra, chorus, and boys’ chorus sets various medieval poems that portray fantastical scenes. The tone of the texts range from exultant to erotic; the sheer variety of the source texts mixed with the tense social atmosphere of the Nazi Regime (under which this piece débuted) generated some anxiety. After the war, Carmina Burana rose in popularity throughout the classical music world. The piece has stood the test of history and held fast against the weathering currents of humanity as a crucial testament to the many facets of mankind.