Weekend lift-off with the BEC and La Fiammata’s ‘Serenade’
The Bach Elgar Choir takes flight in a concert revival of ‘Space Journey’
L-minus 24 hours and counting before Alex Cann and his Bach Elgar Choir once again blast off into the heavens.
Not quite a year after presenting “Space Journey,” a concert of live choral music accompanied by cinematographer-filmmaker Mark Bochsler’s video trek through the cosmos courtesy of high-resolution images from Voyager space probes and the James Webb Space Telescope, Cann and his crew are reviving the project on Friday at 7:30 p.m. in Melrose United Church, 86 Homewood Ave.
Seems everyone enjoyed the first go around so much that a “Space Journey” redux was in order.
“The idea is to give people a chance to view cosmic phenomena in a new, deeper way while going on a metaphysical musical trip,” said Cann. “We revived it because we got very favourable feedback from our audience and because we sensed in it something truly original. The revival gives us a chance to tweak it and smooth out some of the technical challenges as well as introduce it to new audiences.”
As for that last point, for the first time in a very, very long time, the BEC is heading out on the road. On Saturday, they’ll present their redux in London’s Metropolitan United Church and follow up with a May 11 presentation in Toronto’s Metropolitan United Church. But touring costs money, even for modest jaunts up and down Highway 403. So, how is the BEC covering the costs for their out-of-town journeys?
“Prudent fiscal management,” stated Cann. “We have no dedicated grant for this project. There is still capacity for this project to grow and we are planning to lay down a recording when the run is over. Nothing concrete yet, but the membership loves the project and would relish the chance to share it with as wide an audience as possible.”
Now, back to the tweaking part. “Pairing live music and a featurelength film brings with it a host of technical challenges,” explained Cann.
“First, the editing of the images tells a kind of visual story and that story needs to match the ebb and flow of the music. Any time a piece ends or begins is an important bookend of synchronization. In longer musical works with multiple sections, the ‘Gloria’ from Louis Vierne’s ‘Messe solennelle (Solemn Mass)’ for example, there are multiple points of synchronization. This year, we are better able to practise our tempos and hitting our marks because now we have a practice recording from last year, which Mark and I can use for reference.”
In addition to the Vierne, which of course has nothing whatsoever to do with outer space but rather is a continuation of the BEC’s recent focus on major French works for choir and organ, the celestial-themed selections include Charles Villiers Stanford’s “Three Motets” — the second of which is a setting of the 14th-century Ascension hymn, “Coelos ascendit hodie (Today, Jesus Christ has ascended into the heavens).” Toronto-based composer Jared Tomlinson’s “How Sweet the Moonlight Sleeps” is also part of the program.
Tickets at bachelgar.ca: $45; under 25, $20 (all-in).
The presale period for the BEC’s 36th annual May Flower Sale ends on Saturday. Check bachelgar.ca for details.
Chamber music aficionados are in for a rare treat on Sunday at 2 p.m. as the Performing Arts Sunday Series (PASS) at the Hamilton Conservatory for the Arts, 126 James St. S., presents a one-piano, four-hands recital by Linda Ruan and Charissa Vandikas, a.k.a. La Fiammata.
The two pianists first met as solo competitors at the Canadian Federation of Music Teachers’ Association National Piano Competition in Vancouver in 2015, a concours won by Vandikas. That fall, they found themselves in first year at Toronto’s The Glenn Gould School, and were
paired up in the mandatory piano duo course.
“Lo and behold, we seemed to make a pretty good team,” said the duo whose Italian handle roughly translates as “the burst of flame.”
Part of being a pretty good team means playing off of each other’s strengths.
“Charissa is a naturally lyrical player, whereas Linda is driven and energetic,” said the two. “Thus, we are able to contribute our contrasting perspectives to the music. At the same time, we share many of the same pillars in our thoughts about the music which keeps us working toward the same goals.”
While on the competition circuit, the duo scooped up a fair number of laurels, prime among them the Grand Prix at the 2017 Canadian Music Competition and second prize in the piano duo category at the 70th ARD International Music Competition Munich in 2021.
Currently, Ruan is studying at Vancouver’s UBC School of Music while Vandikas is completing doctoral studies at the Université de Montréal.
So, how do they rehearse when they’re 3,700 kilometres apart?
“We build on the solid foundation of work we’ve done together in our four years of undergrad,” said the two. “Often, we’ll prepare our respective parts individually and then come together two weeks or so prior to concerts and events to rehearse together intensively.”
Last September, La Fiammata began a 30-date cross-Canada tour organized as part of “Road Trip!” a pan-Canadian partnership between Debut Atlantic, Prairie Debut and Jeunesses Musicales Canada.
They’ll be bringing their “Serenade to Humanity” program to the HCA, which includes Beethoven’s “Eight Variations on a Theme by Count Waldstein” WoO67, and Schubert’s “Allegro in A Minor” D. 947, “Lebensstürme (Storms of Life)” and “Rondo in A Major” D. 951, all standard repertoire works.
The Canadian compositions on the bill are Kelly-Marie Murphy’s “Prima-Goodman Fantasy,” recently composed for La Fiammata on a commission from the above mentioned partnering organizations and inspired by the 1936 big band song, “Sing, Sing, Sing,” Gary Kulesha’s “Monument,” and Alice Ping Yee Ho’s “Heart to Heart,” inspired by Emily Dickinson’s poem, “Have you got a brook in your little heart,” and premiered in Hamilton in 2015.
Their recital will conclude with American composer John Corigliano’s spirited “Gazebo Dances.”
Tickets at the door or hcadancetheatre.com: $30; senior/arts worker $25; student $15.
Last September, La Fiammata began a 30-date crossCanada tour organized as part of ‘Road Trip!’ a pan-Canadian partnership between Debut Atlantic, Prairie Debut and Jeunesses Musicales Canada
Friday at 7:30 p.m. in Trinity Canadian Reformed Church, 3081Tisdale Rd., Mount Hope, organist Martin Jongsma performs a recital entitled “Resounding History” on the church’s recently restored 22rank tracker action organ. Among the selections are the “Concerto in G” BWV 592 by Prince J. Ernst — J.S. Bach, “Ballo del Granduca” attributed to Sweelinck, van Noordt’s “Psalm XXIV,” Jongsma’s “Chorale Partita — Genevan 134 (Old Hundredth),” as well as audience psalm/hymn singing. Free-will offering.
Wednesday, April 24, in the Cathedral Basilica of Christ the King, 714 King St. W., Toronto’s St. Michael’s Choir School Junior Choir and Senior Choir — a total of 104 voices — sing at the noon mass and then at 12:45 p.m. The free concert is part of the first stop on their brief Ontario junket.