UPCOMING EVENTS:
“Messiah” by George Fredrick Handel will be presented at Gateway Church in Abbotsford on Saturday, December 7th at 2:00 pm featuring two choirs, soloists, and members of the Canada West Chamber Orchestra and the Abbotsford Youth Orchestra led by concertmaster Calvin Dyck and conductor Gerry van Wyck.
This performance will combine a local choral ensemble under the direction of Joel Tranquilla with the Pacific Spirit Choir from West Vancouver (directed by Gerry van Wyck), to form a chorus of 110 singers.
They will be joined by soprano soloist Alison Nystrom who is on faculty at Trinity Western University. She is noted for her exceptional expressiveness in performance. The Alto solos will be sung by counter-tenor Erik Kallo. Originally from Hungary, Erik discovered his love of music at the Langley Fine Arts School and trained in the opera program at UBC. Currently Erik is studying at the Royal College of Music in London. Tenor soloist Kaden Forsberg has degrees from the King’s University in Edmonton, and the University of Victoria where he studied with Benjamin Butterfield. He has had numerous roles in opera, and recently performed in the Amalfi Coast Music Festival in Italy. Bass soloist Stephen Duncan is an up and coming singer from the Fraser Valley who is currently studying at UBC.
At age 52 Handel suffered a stroke which incapacitated him, making it impossible for him to perform or conduct. He also complained of blurred vision. The truth was as well, because he was not a wise businessman he had lost a fortune in the opera business and, depressed and in debt, gave it up in 1740. It was only shortly after these calamities in Handel’s life that he came across a libretto composed by Charles Jennens. Composed entirely of Scripture portions, Handel was so inspired that he wrote the whole 2 ½ hour oratorio in only 24 days. When he got to the Hallelujah chorus, his assistant found him in tears saying “I did think I saw heaven open, and I saw the very face of God”.
Fortunately for Handel, King George decided to attend a performance. When the Hallelujah chorus began to play, the King abruptly stood up, apparently as a way of indicating he recognized that Christ was the King of Kings. It was normal protocol that if the King stood at any time, no one in his presence sat, and so the entire audience stood for the performance of the Hallelujah chorus. The tradition has been maintained to this day.
Tickets are available at King’s Music, House of James or by clicking on the button below.
This performance will combine a local choral ensemble under the direction of Joel Tranquilla with the Pacific Spirit Choir from West Vancouver (directed by Gerry van Wyck), to form a chorus of 110 singers.
They will be joined by soprano soloist Alison Nystrom who is on faculty at Trinity Western University. She is noted for her exceptional expressiveness in performance. The Alto solos will be sung by counter-tenor Erik Kallo. Originally from Hungary, Erik discovered his love of music at the Langley Fine Arts School and trained in the opera program at UBC. Currently Erik is studying at the Royal College of Music in London. Tenor soloist Kaden Forsberg has degrees from the King’s University in Edmonton, and the University of Victoria where he studied with Benjamin Butterfield. He has had numerous roles in opera, and recently performed in the Amalfi Coast Music Festival in Italy. Bass soloist Stephen Duncan is an up and coming singer from the Fraser Valley who is currently studying at UBC.
At age 52 Handel suffered a stroke which incapacitated him, making it impossible for him to perform or conduct. He also complained of blurred vision. The truth was as well, because he was not a wise businessman he had lost a fortune in the opera business and, depressed and in debt, gave it up in 1740. It was only shortly after these calamities in Handel’s life that he came across a libretto composed by Charles Jennens. Composed entirely of Scripture portions, Handel was so inspired that he wrote the whole 2 ½ hour oratorio in only 24 days. When he got to the Hallelujah chorus, his assistant found him in tears saying “I did think I saw heaven open, and I saw the very face of God”.
Fortunately for Handel, King George decided to attend a performance. When the Hallelujah chorus began to play, the King abruptly stood up, apparently as a way of indicating he recognized that Christ was the King of Kings. It was normal protocol that if the King stood at any time, no one in his presence sat, and so the entire audience stood for the performance of the Hallelujah chorus. The tradition has been maintained to this day.
Tickets are available at King’s Music, House of James or by clicking on the button below.
On December 20/21, 2019, Songs Strings and Steps presents their annual Christmas Show at Central Heights Church in Abbotsford. This year’s theme is “peace”.
Director Calvin Dyck is expecting over 2500 people to attend to enjoy a variety of entertainment from the Pacific Mennonite Children’s Choir, the Abbotsford Youth Orchestra, the MEI Jazz Band and the Alumni Project along with dancers, costumes, treats for the audience, poetry, video and other surprises.
Prior to the top of the show, harpist Olivia Ritchie from Canmore, Alberta will be playing at the coffee bar in Central Heights’ newly renovated foyer. Then, as part of the show, Jadon Plett has put together a video interview with a number of local people describing their experience of peace.
The concert title is inspired by a quote from the English mystic Julian of Norwich. In 1373 Julian had a vision of Jesus saying “All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well”.
The music ranges from traditional carols such as “O Little Town of Bethlehem” and “O Holy Night” arranged by Mel Bowker, to “All is Well” by Michael W. Smith, “I Heard the Bells” by Casting Crowns and the beautiful “Snow” by Edward Elgar. The cast of 150 performers is working with 4 different choreographers and a planning team that is overseeing the details of lighting, stage design, costuming, sound, music and flow.
As Calvin says: “We hope that this concert is not only a musical treat; but that it will also be a transformative experience for the audience. We invite you to let the Prince of Peace fill your hearts and minds through the vehicle of music this Christmas season. Hope to see you at Songs Strings and Steps.”
