On the surface, one might expect an audience to feel sorrow when the music centers on the themes of death and the journey of the soul.
But, according to Brett Karlin, artistic director and conductor of the Master Chorale of South Florida, there won't be sorrow in the upcoming collaboration of the New World Symphony and the Master Chorale. Guest conductor Stephanie Childress leads the collaboration of the New World Symphony and the Master Chorale of South Florida performing “Mozart’s Requiem” by Austrian 18th century composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and “Toward The Unknown Region” written by British 20th century composer Ralph Vaughan Williams at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 14 at the Knight Concert Hall of the Adrienne Arsht Center For The Performing Arts in Miami.
“Contrary to what one may think, the two classical music compositions focusing on a Roman Catholic Mass (“Mozart’s Requiem” written in 1791) and the journey of the soul (“Toward The Unknown Region” written in 1906) are uplifting pieces of music,” said Karlin. “As composed by Mozart and Williams, both pieces use the blending of chorale voices and instruments to create hope even as the compositions explore grief, loss and the unknown journey of the soul. The music and chorus build up the music to an emotional climax," he continued.
Karlin worked with Childress to arrange the blending of Master Chorale of South Florida's 100 choral voices with the musical instruments of NWS.
The collaboration was heightened further by Childress’ admiration of the works of Williams and especially his use of Walt Whitman’s poetry, such as his poem “Darest Thou Now O Soul” that inspired his 15-minute composition “Toward The Unknown Region.”
“What Whitman envisioned in his poem and Williams brought musically alive in ‘Toward The Unknown Region’ was that death was not to be feared, but as a grand liberating venture,” said Childress.
She added that “Williams brought a distinct balance between the instruments and the vocals resulting in a musical composition that is inspiring.”
Williams (1872-1958) created his 15-minute composition to be arranged with two bassoons, one cello, two clarinets, one double bass, three flutes, an English horn, two harps, four horns, two harps, an organ, a timpani drum, three trumpets, three trombones, one viola and two violins along with a chorale of voices to sing in full Whitman’s poem.
“The most significant musical instrument to me that Williams used was the English horn that creates the unexpected mournful sound that moves the composition,” said Karlin.
“The beauty of the voices expressing so much emotion in the reading of ‘Darest Thou Now O Soul’ reaffirmed Williams' conviction that the vocals would take prominence over the instruments,” he added.
Childress opens the program with “Toward The Unknown Region" and what follows is the 55 minute “Mozart’s Requiem” without an intermission.
“Mozart’s Requiem” is widely known as Mozart’s last composition before his death, in which he wrote the first two of the 14 movements that was finished by his student Franz Xaver Süssmayr.
“Mozart anticipated that he would not be able to finish the composition, so the piece is often referenced that he was writing the funeral mass for himself. ‘Mozart’s Requiem’ is expressively written in D minor giving the music a deep visceral quality,” said Childress.
“Mozart’s Requiem” is performed with two basset horns, two bassoons, cello, clarinet, double bass,organ, three trombones, two trumpets, two violas and two violins.
Joining to perform “Mozart’s Requiem" will be guest vocalists tenor Eric Ferring, soprano Ilanah-Lobel-Torres, baritone/bass Daniel Okulitch and mezzo-soprano Raven Taylor.
“Mozart wanted to create a strong vocal quality to his composition and created movements that emphasized the contrasting vocal ranges with movements that have a mixture of vocals sung individually as well as with chorals and other movements that featured only chorales. Mozart creates a memorable composition by his emphasis on highlighting the vocals,” she continued.
Mozart (1756-1791) wrote the first two movements of his composition featuring the vocals and, following his death, the remaining 12 movements were finished by Xaver Süssmayr.
The audience will hear soprano Lobel-Torres sing in the first movement, the Master Chorale of South Florida Choir alone in the second, fifth and eighth movements, the four guest vocalists performing solely in the sixth movement and a mixture of the guest vocalists and the Master Chorale of South Florida in movements three, four and nine with the remaining movements of “Mozart’s Requiem” performed only with instruments..
What moves Childress is working for her third time with the Fellows at New World Symphony.
“The young musicians of the New World Symphony are as eager as I am in being creative and open to new stylings and variations that will enhance the quality of the performances,” said Childress.
Karlin finds the vocalists of his Master Chorale to be exceptional, too.
“What is so significant is not only that Master Chorale has outstanding vocal talent, but that many of the vocalists are only singing part time,” said Karlin. "To sing so beautifully, our vocalists are disciplined and are willing to do as many rehearsals as needed to prepare for concerts. What also inspires me is that our talent is based in South Florida and goes across generations.”
WHAT: Guest conductor Stephanie Childress leads the New World Symphony in collaboration with Master Chorale of South Florida and four guest soloists to perform “Toward The Unknown Region” by Ralph Vaughan Williams and “Mozart’s Requiem” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
WHEN: 8 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 14
WHERE: Knight Concert Hall, Adrienne Arsht Center, 1300 Biscayne Blvd. Miami
TICKETS: $75-$246
RUNNING TIME: 70 minutes, no intermission
MORE INFO: 305-673-3330 or nws.edu
