Winnipeg’s Sonora Voices’ Cantemus Choir and Chamber Ensemble are set to present Jonah, an opera for young people by Manitoba composer Sid Robinovitch. The performance will take place on Sunday, March 16, at 7:00 p.m. at Westworth United Church.
Inspired by the biblical tale of Jonah and the whale, this production features a new arrangement tailored for choir, soloists, and a small ensemble consisting of piano, bass, and percussion. The adaptation stems from a chorister’s request for a more accessible vocal score after the opera premiered in 2022 with the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra.
“Sid Robinovitch just took that to heart and wrote this sort of smaller version of it so that it's a little bit more accessible,” said Valdine Anderson, artistic director of Sonora Voices. “Now, it's just three instruments, piano, bass, and drums, with choir and soloists. Add a narrator, and voila! You've got the new Jonah.”
The performance will feature soloists Julia Baldwin and Sophie Caron, with Caron taking on the role of Jonah. Brian Richardson will serve as the narrator, guiding the audience through the story’s journey. The ensemble of musicians includes Karl Kohut on bass, Cameron Denby on percussion, and Leanne Regehr Lee on piano, who will also conduct the Cantemus Choir.
Robinovitch’s signature style blends folk, jazz, and contemporary classical elements, which Anderson describes as “super tuneful and very catchy.” She highlighted the evocative use of drums and solo voice to set the scene, klezmer-inspired harmonies, and a lively jazz section in the middle. “There’s a fantastic scat singing part where the ensemble breaks into three parts. It’s so fun,” she added.
In addition to Jonah, the Sonora Voices Chamber Ensemble and Cantemus Choir will perform a selection of choral pieces, including Craig Hella Johnson’s Will There Really Be a Morning?, set to poetry by Emily Dickinson, and a folk song arrangement of 10,000 Miles, featuring violin accompaniment by Rachel Christensen. The evening will also include Stars by Ēriks Ešenvalds, a choral work accompanied by wine glass tones, promising a unique listening experience.
Anderson hopes audiences will leave the performance with a tune stuck in their heads. “I can almost guarantee it,” she said. “The whole evening should be kind of special.”
The performance of Jonah will be held at Westworth United Church on Sunday, March 16, at 7:00 p.m.
For tickets and further details click here.