Victoria Philharmonic Choir: J.S. Bach's Christmas Oratorio
$35 CAD ($15 CAD student)
- Jennifer Turner, soprano
- Alana Hayes, alto
- Carson Moore, countertenor
- Graeme Linton, tenor
- Alex Chen, baritone
- Peter Butterfield, conductor
The Victoria Philharmonic Choir dances into its new season with a swirl of trumpets, baroque style, heralding an early start to the twelve days of Christmas.
Bach composed this set of cantatas for the feast days between Christmas and Epiphany, telling the Nativity story from the birth of the Christ Child through the adoration of the shepherds and the arrival of three kings bearing gifts.
Peter Butterfield conducts a choir of 100 voices, six soloists, and an orchestra that includes baroque specialists from Victoria and Vancouver.
Doors will open by 7pm; festival seating.
Advance tickets recommended. There may be tickets at the door, cash only.
About Jennifer Turner, soprano
Jennifer Turner is a Victoria B.C. based soprano known for her expressive singing and powerful, ringing tone. A performer who sings with strong emotional intensity, Jennifer's warm and engaging presence has captivated audiences on the operatic and concert stages alike.
Jennifer is in demand as a concert soloist throughout Western Canada with engagements by Pacific Opera, Victoria Baroque, the Okanagan Festival Singers, the Victoria Philharmonic Choir, Opera Kelowna, Manitoba Underground Opera, the Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra, the Salt Spring Chamber Orchestra, and Choir, the Linden Singers, the Victoria Civic Orchestra and the Cowichan Consort. In 2018, Jennifer toured with Canadian baritone, Gino Quilico, along with collaborative pianist Robert Holliston for a lecture concert of opera excerpts representing historical Canadian singers.
Jennifer has performed with Pacific Opera Victoria in recital and on the main stage, making her solo debut in the role of Donna/Siren in Handel's Rinaldo. She has also sung in several productions as a chorus member. Jennifer received extensive operatic training through the Victoria Conservatory of Music Opera Studio including her role debut as Fiordiligi in Mozart's Cosi fan tutte under the stage direction of Glynis Leyshon and Maestro Giuseppe Pietraroia. She also performed the role of Countess in Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro with stage director Julie McIsaac and Maestro Timothy Vernon.
Jennifer has been generously supported by the British Columbia Arts Council through an Early Career Development Grant and Professional Development Grants. She was a 2020 recipient of an Early Music Vancouver Scholarship to study with baroque specialist Nancy Argenta. While completing her MA in Cultural Studies at Queens University, she received a prestigious SSHRC Canada Graduate Scholarship to study the disciplining effects of singing technique on the body. With her academic background, Jennifer has a strong curiosity for bringing critical perspectives into classical music. Moreover, Jennifer is interested in new music having performed avant-garde compositions and premiered works by Canadian composers.
Jennifer holds a M.Mus from the University of Manitoba where she studied with Tracy Dahl, and a Diploma in Music Performance from the Victoria Conservatory of Music where she studied with Ingrid Attrot and Nancy Argenta. Outside of the performance world, Jennifer is an enthusiastic tennis player, cat lover, and aspiring pianist and conductor.
https://jenniferturnersoprano.ca/About Graeme Linton, tenor
Graeme Linton is a tenor from Terrace, British Columbia. He holds a Graduate Diploma and Bachelors of Music in Voice and Opera from McGill University. Throughout his time at McGill, he performed in choruses, operatic productions, and solo recital works. Through his classes and teachings he developed a keen interest in art song repertoire, and romantic opera. He loves the ability to tell stories through music, and collaborate with other musicians. Growing up in a remote town in northern British Columbia, Graeme has loved the time he can spend giving back to his community by teaching the youth in school productions. Graeme is very excited to be back performing, and telling stories with his collaborators.
About Alex Chen, baritone
Alex Chen is a collaborative pianist and vocal coach on the faculty of the Victoria Conservatory of Music in Victoria, BC. His personal approach and intellectual curiosity brings fresh perspectives on a diverse body of musical works.
https://www.alexchenpiano.com/