By Reg Huston
Under the able direction of John Koza, the Camerata Singers has established itself as a solid, diversified, entertaining and polished ensemble that constantly reaches out to find new and exciting music. Although they often perform well-established works, Koza seeks to include literature that is worthwhile and powerful, while not necessarily standard fare. In the past, the ensemble has shown real foresight in advancing its choral tradition by commissioning new works. Its loyal followers, of which there are many, have always been treated to an interesting array of varied styles that entertain, enrich and educate, even as the ensemble encourages the audience and themselves to listen and look within.
Its performance on Friday, March 13th at at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Salinas continued the traditions and high levels of expertise we have come to expect from this ensemble. The so-called “Winter Travels” highlighted music (and weather) from Austria, Scotland, England and Canada (along with American composers describing far away lands) with rich colors and fine interpretation throughout.
The evening began with two works (”My Heart Longs for Springtime” and “Innsbruck, Ich Muß Dich Lassen by Praetorius and Issac, respectively) that set the tone for an evening of lovely phrasing and a fine blend of artful musicianship. The next work (”Mid-Winter Songs” by contemporary composer Morten Lauridsen) set a series of exquisite poems by Robert Graves to difficult and satisfying music that was Schumannesque in form and performed with finesse. Once again the ever-dependable Pauline Troia proved her keyboard skills with elegant and tasteful artistry. Koza then traveled back in time to give us a setting of songs by Brent Pierce called “Travelog” which combined singing and non-singing tones. These captivating and enjoyable “snapshots” along our tour gave a much needed, and sometimes whimsical, break from the heavier first few works.
The next three pieces were the true highlights of the evening. First, the Camerata Singers with sublime tenderness treated its audience to a superb setting of Loch Lomond arranged by Jonathan Quick (with a sweet solo by Tom Barber). Then came the wonderful, sensitive music of Paul Aiken, which set the well-known John McCrae poem “Flanders Fields” in a totally captivating and moving presentation. The gem of the evening, though, was “Frobisher Bay” a Canadian Folk Song arranged by Diane Loomer and sung by the fabulous Camerata Men’s Ensemble. It was stunning – nothing more could be said!
The ladies then had their turn to show off their high-level of balance and blend in “Under the Greenwood Tree” (music by Boyd on a bit from Shakespeare’s “As You Like It”. The evening ended with two up-tempo, fun works: “The Geographical Fugue” an intricate and fast-paced web of entirely spoken counterpoint (by Toch) and “The National Weather Forecast,” a tongue-in-cheek rib at the rest of the USA about how great it is to live in California (text and music by Henry Mollicone).
The Camerata Singers do more than present fine choral music. They make you feel as if you, the audience members, are a part of their extended family. They embrace you with their wanting to share what they have worked so hard to master, and you embrace them and their music as you are swept along.
SOAP BOX:
The Camerata Singers is to be congratulated for continuing its “Future’s Program,” which reaches out to local high schools and involves young singers in the kind of supportive, familial, educational atmosphere that only a large choral ensemble can create. Every arts discipline, for its own good and for the good of the community, must foster participation of a younger audience. The inclusion of these younger “on-the-job” learners is a fine way to develop positive arts involvement and support on many levels.
End
Reg Huston has been a concert soloist and has performed leading roles in opera and musical theater throughout the greater Monterey Peninsula for over thirty years.
