Victoria Choral Society: 'The Houses Stand Not Far Apart' & 'Golden Harvest'
$35 CAD ($10 CAD student/income accessible pricing)
- Betty Waynne Allison, soprano
- Nathan McDonald, baritone
- Victoria Symphony, members
- Brian Wismath, conductor
In 2008 in the midst of world conflicts, Edmonton composer John Estacio together with Canadian playwright John Murrell, OC, drew inspiration for a new cantata, The Houses Stand Not Far Apart. Its message is a powerful plea for understanding and harmony. The cantata tells of two identical houses side by side but separated by a river. In each house, families of three generations celebrate life with dancing and love. Yet there is no neighbourly feeling, no understanding between the families, only hatred and pride dividing them just as the river separates them. This 3-movement piece ends with the words: "Let doubt, resentment and anger cease, And may you find yourselves at last in peace."
Golden Harvest was commissioned in 2016 by conductor Laurence Ewashko to celebrate the 125th anniversary of Ukrainian immigration to Canada. Ukrainian-Canadian composer Larysa Kuzmenko was chosen for her heritage and depth of knowledge of Ukrainian culture, and for her "lyrical and accessible" musical style. Librettist Talia Zajac created an unusual Ukrainian/French/English text which conveys the story and challenges of this early twentieth-century immigration to Canada. It's a set of experiences that "speaks to any new Canadian who had to survive in the wilderness (literal or otherwise) to help build our nation."
About Victoria Choral Society
The Victoria Choral Society, directed by Brian Wismath, is an auditioned, mixed-voice symphonic choir dedicated to presenting the finest choral music from baroque to contemporary. Founded in 1934, the Victoria Choral Society has played a leading role in Victoria’s cultural life, and has performed with every Victoria Symphony conductor since the Symphony’s inception.
https://www.victoriachoralsociety.ca/About Betty Waynne Allison, soprano
Teaching artist and soprano Dr. Betty Allison is a professor of voice at Dalhousie University where she runs the DalOpera program and teaches applied voice. A graduate of the Canadian Opera Company Ensemble, major credits include the world premiere of Mary's Wedding with Pacific Opera Victoria, the title role in Floyd's Susannah with Florentine Opera, Alice in Verdi’s Falstaff with L'Opéra Théâtre de Metz Métropole, and Rosalinde in Die Fledermaus with Edmonton Opera.
Betty has performed a varied repertoire, demonstrating her natural ability and talent, from the Countess (Le Nozze di Figaro) and Tatiana (Eugene Onegin), to Vixen (Cunning Little Vixen) and Elizabeth I (Gloriana). She is equally comfortable on the concert stage, with her rich and florid interpretation of pieces such as Mahler’s Symphony VIII, Brahms' Requiem, and Gubaidulina’s Galgenlieder à 3.
Recently, Betty completed her doctorate at the University of Toronto. Her research focused on the connection between a singer’s voice and their overall wellness and resilience. Specifically, she examined the non-musical stressors and coping strategies that elite singers use to maintain their voices and careers.
https://www.schmopera.com/scene/people/betty-waynne-allison/About Nathan McDonald, baritone
Commanding a repertoire spanning several centuries, from renaissance polyphony to modern opera, Nathan David McDonald, baritone, is often lauded for his vocal versatility. With a diverse musical background, including a degree in trumpet and seven years as a church Music Director, Nathan brings a wealth of experience and musicianship to his craft.
Active as an oratorio singer, Nathan has appeared with a variety of West Coast ensembles such as the Pacific Baroque Festival Orchestra, Victoria Philharmonic Choir, Cowichan Consort, and Vox Humana Chamber Choir. Recent highlights include Handel's Apollo e Dafne with Victoria Baroque led by Steven Divine; Bach's Magnificat with the Sooke Philharmonic and Victoria Choral Society; Bach's Christmas Oratorio with the Okanagan Festival Singers; the World Premiere of two new pieces at a Poetry and Song gala by East Van Opera; and Jean-Joseph de Mondonville's Cantate Domino at the Pacific Baroque Festival.
Nathan has presented recitals in Canada and the United States, and has sung professionally in choirs on 4 continents. A veteran of youth-oriented choral projects, Nathan has sung several times with the National Youth Choir of Canada and World Youth Choir, as well as the Carnegie Hall Chamber Choir (New York, NY), Weimar Bach Cantata Academy (Weimar, Germany), JSB Ensemble (Stuttgart, Germany), and Academia Internacional Teatro del Lago (Chile).
Operatic highlights include Nathan's 2016 mainstage debut with Pacific Opera Victoria (POV) as Fiorello in Rossini's Barber of Seville; solo chorus in the POV's school touring production of Mary's Wedding by Andrew Macdonald; performing the role of Marcello (2018) and Papageno (2017) in POV's Living Opera in schools program; and singing the role of Marcello in Puccini's La Bohème at Edmonton's NUOVA festival. Other operatic roles include Il Conte (Le Nozze di Figaro – Mozart), Dandini (La Cenerentola – Rossini), Don Alfonso (Cosi fan tutte – Mozart), Marco (Gianni Schicchi – Puccini), Colas (Bastien und Bastienne – Mozart), and Mr. Gobineau (The Medium – Menotti).
Nathan is a member of the Voice Faculty at the Victoria Conservatory of Music and the Canadian College of Performing Arts. He serves as Music Director/Kantor at Lutheran Church of the Cross, Victoria, and is mentored by soprano, Nancy Argenta.
https://nathandavidmcdonald.com/en/