To judge from random comments later on, this informal welcome, which had been devised by Conductor Virginia Davidson, was an inspired departure. Each group sang five short carols and it was apparent that joie de vivre was the mood of the afternoon. After about 20 minutes, the carolers moved to the stage, joined by other members of the choral society who had been waiting in the wings. The formal concert then began, under the direction of Dr. Davidson, with a lovely rendition of “I Am The Rose of Sharon.”
Among noteworthy features of the concert was the appearance of Guest Conductor George V. Rose, former Music Director of the Waldorf School of Garden City (1962-1997) and founder of its Choral Society, which he still heads. Maestro Rose was GNCS’s second conductor, from 1960 to 1972, and GNCS members were thrilled by his spirited conducting of the German part of the program.
Guy Brewer, GNCS's extraordinary accompanist who has played the organ at several prior concerts, provided the piano and organ accompaniments for this concert.
The concert also was the occasion for the group’s revisiting of Roy Bennett’s “I Saw A Lass,” a lively sea ballad that had the choral group riding waves of changing keys and rhythms. Mr. Bennett, a baritone, is a long-time member of the chorus.
As always at winter concerts, the concluding piece was a rousing rendition of the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah.
GNCS banner to wave in Great Neck 9-7-07
A Great Neck Choral Society banner will wave in Great Neck, thanks to
the indefatigable Joan Gartner, who elicited permission from The Great
Neck Plaza Board of Trustees.
The banner will go up in time for the
September 23 Great Neck Plaza Street Fair and will rise again preceding
each of the three 2007-2008 concerts. The display time will be three weeks before the December 16, March 9 and May 4 concerts and one week after each concert.
The exact location is the west fence at the LIRR overpass, north of Great Neck
Road.
December concert to feature 'highlights' 8-26-07
The first concert of GNCS's 50th season, on December 16, will present excerpts from major choral works that the Society considers to be "highlights" of previous concerts. The specific program will be announced later.
This year the Society is reverting to the three-concert format that it observed for many years. The two concerts set for 2008: A 'Bach festival' on March 9, and Beethoven's Missa Solemnis (Op. 123) on May 4.
Although the normal ticket price for a GNCS concert is $20, the Society for the first time is offering a season subscription for a reduced proce of $50. Contact GNCS at PO Box 231132, Great Neck, NY 11023-1132.
Trumpets–and applause–ring out for Joshua 5-8-07
The church was full and the clapping vigorous as audience members rose spontaneously to give a standing ovation to GNCS’s performance of Joshua on May 8 and to the soloists, children and orchestra members who made the production a theatrical as well as a vocal success (see photos)
The oratorio--for chorus, soloists, harpsichord, organ and chamber orchestra--was one of the more complicated productions designed by GNCS director Virginia Davidson, who was eager to provide audience members with a dramatic sense of the Biblical tale. Heads turned to watch the chorus at the beginning proceed down side aisles toward the stage, the waters of the Jordan simulated by singers at the head of each line gently waving blue sheaths of material, as the orchestra confidently took up Joshua’s distinctive Handelian sounds. Again, in Act Two, heads turned as a group of "Israelites" took a measured turn around the nave, while the remaining choral members on stage urged them on with repeated shouts of “glory.” No wonder “the strong cemented walls” and “the tott’ring tow’rs” of Jericho soon fell.
This Joshua also invited the audience to stand and join in the singing of “Hail the Conquering Hero,” following a rendition of this famous section, sung by a children’s chorus. By the time the entire chorus sang out the joyous final movement, “The great Jehovah is our awful theme,” it was obvious that everyone–singers and audience alike–felt the “sublimity” and “power” of this great work.
After the concert, singers commented on how various sections of the oratorio were entering their heads unbidden. Indeed, in the parking lot, strains from various “wondrous passages” could be heard wafting through the late-afternoon air, over and above the sound of car engines.
Early plans for a 50th anniversary year 4-23-07
GNCS members--and our director--will be working especially hard next season to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the group.
Plans call for three major concerts instead of the two of recent seasons. These will be a Fall Concert on December 16, a Winter Concert on March 9, 2008, and a Spring Concert on May 4.
In addition, for 2008 the group is planning for a spring/summer "sing-in" of Handel's Messiah (date to be announced) and a 50th Anniversay Gala Dinner in June.
'I come commissioned from on high'4-17-07
These, the Angel’s opening words in Joshua, could well have been claimed as fact by the three finalists who tried out for the part of Handel’s Angel, for they all came from on high--as top-performing youngsters in their respective schools.
The audition was won by Richard Feder, an 11-year old from Great Neck who is in the fifth grade of the E.M. Baker School. How apt the choice, declares his mother Debbie Feder, “Richard really is an angel.” She adds that “it’s déjà vu all over again,” for years ago, when she was an adolescent, she sang this very same part, before moving on to sing soprano for awhile with GNCS.
Mrs. Feder is thrilled that Richard “got the call.” Of course, so is Richard (shown here with his mother), who will also sing “See the conquering hero comes.” Articulate and enthusiastic, he plays alto sax in Advanced Band and loves math and biology. Mom points out that he’s also a great performer, having recently risen to the occasion of taking on the role of Captain Hook, though he was running a 102.5F fever.
There was nothing but admiration for First Alternate Sydney Lazar, from East Rockaway, and for Second Alternate Christine Cimpian, from Great Neck, both of whom attended rehearsals.
Young Sydney, who goes to the Lynbrook School, loves to sing classical music. She is a member of the Met Youth Orchestra Children’s Choir of Long Island, and also plays cello. In addition to taking dancing lessons, she performs, and was last seen in her school’s production of “High School Musical.” Mom adds that Sydney is also a great reader.
Christine, also from the E.M. Baker School, modestly says she likes chorus a lot, but when prompted, indicates that she also enjoys math and art and playing clarinet. Mother Cimpian notes that in addition, Christine plays piano and has been studying ballet for over seven years.
The chorus and conductor Dr. Virginia Davidson extend warmest thanks to all those who made the auditions possible, with special thanks to E.M. Baker School music teacher James Shepherd, who also sings tenor with GNCS.
Balcony-eye view of the combined choruses in Carnegie Hall.
Chorus sings Mozart at Carnegie Hall 4-6-07
On April 1 (no kidding) GNCS joined four other choruses in a rousing performance of Mozart’s Requiem at Carnegie Hall.
The dark spots in the picture of the entire group above represent GNCS participants (all in black). The other groups were: the Davidson Singers, based in Manhattan; the Munster H.S. Choral Ensembles from Crown Point, IN; the Episcopal H.S. Chorale from Houston, TX; and the Mosinee H.S. Concert Choir from Mosinee, WI. Dr. Patrick Gardner, Director of Choral Activities at Rutgers University's Mason Gross School of the Arts and choral director of the Riverside Choral Society in New York City, led the over-200 voices, with intense passion and exhilarating expertise.
The concert, produced by MidAmerica, an independent organization dedicated to classical choral performances at major halls in New York and around the world, was held under the auspices of the New England Symphonic Ensemble, directed by Virginia-Gene Rittenhouse. Of course, GNCS’s own maestro, Dr. Virginia Davidson, was the moving force behind the Great Neck Choral Society’s invitation to participate.