Pianist Elena Evans accompanies Vivace choir
The well known Bunbury musical performance group Vivace has announced a new series of performances in the South West. Led by baritone Tony Martin and conductor Arwel Jenkins, the group is revisiting a work it presented in its first performance in 2001. This year’s program includes two pieces, Mozart’s Requiem (K626), and Gloria (RV589), the most popular of Vivaldi’s choral works.
An air of mystery has surrounded Mozart’s Requiem for two hundred years, because it is thought Mozart believed he had been commissioned to write a requiem mass for his own funeral, and it remained unfinished at the time of the composer’s death. It was completed later by one of his favourite students, Franz Xavier Süssmayer. Exactly which parts may be attributed to Mozart, and which to his protégé remains a point of conjecture to this day. It’s difficult birth aside, there is no doubt about the popularity of the piece for performers and audience alike. Hence its return this year as a favourite in Vivace’s repertoire.
Vivaldi’s Gloria is a new piece for Vivace. The work dates from around 1717 when Vivaldi was mainly employed as a music teacher for young girls at the Ospedalle dela Pietà. It remained unplayed for two centuries until its first modern revival in Sienna in 1939.
Every Vivace performance is a communal effort, according to co-organiser Tony Martin. “It was our love of Mozart’s Requiem which motivated us towards that first performance nine years ago,” said Tony, “and I think all the singers and instrumentalists today love an opportunity to perform oratorio works. Otherwise it would be impossible to sustain such a huge effort for such a brief and ephemeral moment of live performance.”
“That we can do justice to the genius of the composer depends very much on the leadership of our conductor, Arwel Jenkins” said Tony. “He has led us since our first production.”
Arwel Jenkins musical career began playing french horn with the BBC Welsh Symphony orchestra before teaching music in Bunbury and regularly participating in public performances with various orchestras, bands and choirs. “I think his passion for quality performance of good music is contagious, and has permeated all the Vivace productions and inspires every performance.”
Vivace is planning three performances in the South West over two weekends.
Sunday 2:00 pm 13th June @ Margaret River Cultural Centre
Saturday 8:00 pm 19th June @ St Boniface Cathedral, Bunbury
Sunday 1.30pm 20th June @ St Boniface Cathedral, Bunbury
Tickets will be available at the door, $20/$15 concession.