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This Saturday, August 24th at Knox United Church at 2:00pm there will be a truly musically magical event happening.
Winnipeg’s SummerChör will be performing Mozart’s awe-inspiring Requiem in D minor. Consisting of an 80 voice choir, full orchestra and soloists this is sure to be something very special, and a great way to take in this masterpiece in the lush acoustics of Knox United Church at 400 Edmonton Street.
What makes SummerChör special is that it consists of members who are all passionate volunteers. There are amateur musicians, semi-professionals, and seasoned professions in the ensemble. Collectively, they put on a performance that is of the highest caliber. Nathan Poole is the Artistic Director and Conductor for SummerChör. He believes that the hard work the musicians put into the performance and the ensemble's vibrancy are a testament to the thriving choral community here in Manitoba. “When I made the announcement that we are going to do SummerChör this year, we had an instant sign up, it was incredible. It was an instant response. There is a need for it and want for that community event to happen in the summer,” says Poole.
The Mozart Requiem is a masterpiece and is surrounded in drama and glory, and mystery. It was the last composition Mozart was working on before he died in 1791. Because of the dark and dynamic quality to the music, some have said that Mozart knew he was dying, and was composing music for this own death.
He left the work unfinished, and there have been a few composers and musicologists who have taken on the task of completing it, but today it is the Franz Sussmayer completion that is he most frequently performed, and it is the Sussmayer version that SummerChör will be performing on Saturday. “We are doing the Sussmayer because it is the most recognizable as the Mozart Requiem,” states Poole.
In addition to the vibrant full chorus and orchestra that the ensemble has, they will also be joined by four first rate vocal soloists. Sandra Bender is the soprano, Kathleeen Murphy is the mezzo-soprano, Aaron Hutto is the tenor, and Matt Pauls will be singing the bass.
The opportunity to see a performance of Mozart’s Requiem live is rare, and to have it done by such a large passionate group of musicians, at such a high level, is extra special. SummerChör’s performance this Saturday, August 24th at Knox United Church at 2:00pm is something that is sure to be the highlight of this late summer season.
For more details on SummerChör’s performance of Mozart’s Requiem click here