Bermuda Chamber Choir’s Christmas Concert
The Bermuda Chamber Choir will present an outstanding evening of sublime Christmas music featuring the works of some of France’s finest composers on November 23 at 7.00pm, and November 24 at 4.00pm.
Set in the impressive Queen’s Exhibition Hall in the National Museum of Bermuda at Dockyard, this concert will be a perfect and glorious beginning to the Christmas season.
According to Director Kate Ross, the Saint-Saëns Christmas Oratorio is a “gorgeously rich piece comprised of ten movements, telling the well-known story of the prophecy and birth of Christ. This piece features beautiful solos, enchanting ensembles and dramatic choruses.
“The Four Christmas Motets by Poulenc hark back to the traditional Gregorian chants of the Epiphany and Nativity through a variety of perspectives. The settings are at times dissonant and at others lyrical and warm, but always poignant and potent.”
“The first Poulenc Motet, O magnum mysterium is sung from the viewpoint of the animals in the barn who consider the privilege of being witness to this event,” continued Ms Moss.
The second, Quem vidistis asks the shepherds to describe their experience of the birth of Christ accompanied by choirs of angels. The third, Videntes stellam is the story of the Wise men and their offerings of gold, frankincense and myrrh. The fourth and final motet Hodie Christus natus est is from mankind’s perspective and is a hymn of rejoicing and hopefulness.
“The Cantique de Jean Racine is another example of French vocal music at its finest. The lilting introduction sets the tone of this exquisite setting of Racine’s poem Ambrosia. This piece pairs beautifully with the Christmas Oratorio as Saint-Saëns was Faure’s teacher.”
The Bermuda Chamber Choir, under the auspices of the Bermuda School of Music, is a community choir. Choir members attend sessions each Monday evening and learn the best of choral music from great composers, while helping to keep the fine art of Choral singing alive in Bermuda.
Director Kate Ross began teaching music in Bermuda in 1983 and since then she has become a well-known figure in local musical and theatrical circles.
She has worked with the Daylesford Singers and the BMDS for which she is also directing the music for this year’s Pantomime. She began working at Bermuda High School as Director of Music in 1986, and is currently the Head of Senior Years and IB Coordinator at BHS.
Organist and choir accompanist Oliver Grant has played with the Chamber Choir for the past seven years. He has also performed in numerous Bermuda Festival and Bermuda School of Music events.
Having worked and studied in Spain and the United Kingdom, Mr Grant currently teaches Piano and Solfeggio at the Bermuda School of Music. Oliver is also Organist at Christ Church Warwick, as well as a member of the rock band Working Title.
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