GOOD FRIDAY 2023 FESTIVAL CHOIR INVITATION

Met United has a long history of presenting major choral works in concert on Good Friday evening. This year we continue that great tradition with G.F. Handel’s Brockes Passion, an early masterwork that’s often cited and rarely performed. For these performances we traditionally expand our regular choir with an auditioned group of guest singers, known as the Festival Choir.

The Metropolitan Festival Choir will be joined this year by a period instrument ensemble (Cristina Zacharias, Concertmaster); Michael Colvin as Evangelist; Geoffrey Sirett as Jesus; and Jacqueline Woodley as Tochter Zion. In good historical-performance  style, Wayne C. Vance Organ Scholar Joshua Duncan Lee will play continuo on the church organ; Minister of Music Dr. Jonathan Oldengarm conducts and plays recit and aria continuo. This is an exceptional opportunity to sing and experience a major Handel work with an outstanding choir, orchestra, and soloists.

The Festival Choir will rehearse as follows:

Sunday, February 26: 13:00 - 15:00
Sunday, March 12: 13:00 - 15:00
Sunday, March 19: 13:00 - 15:00
Sunday, March 26: 13:00 - 15:00
*Sunday, April 2: 13:00 - 15:00
*Monday, April 3: 19:00 - 22:00 (choir-orchestra rehearsal)
*Thursday, April 6: 14:00 - 17:00 (dress rehearsal)
*Good Friday, April 7: 19:30 - 22:00 approx (performance)

Attendance at the three final rehearsals is mandatory (April 2, 3 and 6), and at least two of the first four (Feb. 26, March 12, 19 and 26).

A marked vocal score (choral movements only) of the work can be consulted here, and physical copies will be available to Festival Choir participants as of Sunday, February 12. A recording can be heard here.

Please contact Minister of Music Dr. Jonathan Oldengarm (jonathano@metunited.ca) by Wednesday, February 15 for further details.

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