Volume 28 Issue 1 | September 20 - November 8, 2022

JIM OSLEY
chariot. In several instances Mendelssohn heightens dramatic effects
by writing for double choir or employing only women’s voices or
contrasting the voice of a single child with Elijah’s mature baritone.
The unsung heroes of Elijah are the people of the town of
Birmingham, England. This West-Midlands industrial town maintained
a firm, civic commitment to commission big, new works for its
Triennial Festival. Founded in 1784 with the intention of raising funds
for its general hospital, the festival became a great success; so much
so that a purpose-built concert venue, the magnificent neo-classical
Birmingham Town Hall, was erected in 1831. Mendelssohn’s Elijah
(1846), Sullivan’s The Light of the World (1873), Dvořák’s Requiem
(1891), Gounod’s Redemption (1882), Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius
(1900), The Apostles (1903), The Kingdom (1906) and The Music
Makers (1912) all received their first performance here. World War I
put an end to Birmingham’s festival, but the city continues to support
oratorio performances to this day. In February 2022 the oratorio
The Ordering of Moses, composed by Canada’s own Nathanial Dett,
received its UK premiere at the new Birmingham Symphony Hall.
The tradition continues
This fall two Ontario cities can boast at least a century-long tradition
of singing large oratorios. Two different productions of Elijah
L to R: Birmingham Town Hall, today; artist's impression
(1831) by W. Harris, of the Hansom & Welch design, as
entered into the competition to design the building
with full orchestra can be witnessed only nine days apart. In
Kitchener-Waterloo on Saturday October 22, the Grand Philharmonic
Choir (who are celebrating 100 years of singing) and the KW
Symphony at The Centre in the Square, conducted by Mark Vuorinen,
will feature James Westman as Elijah. On Wednesday November 2, the
128-year-old Toronto Mendelssohn Choir conducted by Jean-Sébastien
Vallée (along with with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra who are
marking their own 100th anniversary this season) present Russell
Braun in the title role at Roy Thomson Hall.
Cities like Birmingham, Toronto and Kitchener-Waterloo have
done well at bringing together all the diverse skills and resources
required to present oratorios. Amateur choirs are the embodiment
of community music-making, made even more powerful and
poignant after our forced pandemic silence. Paired with a professional
orchestra, communicative soloists and a receptive audience, the
dramatic effect of an oratorio is like no other musical experience.
Watch for Steph Martin’s newly commissioned “Water: An
environmental oratorio” with the Grand Philharmonic Choir and
KW Symphony, Centre in the Square, Sunday, May 28, 2023.
22-23 Season
More info at orpheuschoirtoronto.com
thewholenote.com September 20 - November 8, 2022 | 17