Chez Nous: Christmas with Elektra (2018)
November 24, 2018 at 7:30 pm
Shaughnessy Heights United Church, Vancouver
When we present our annual Chez Nous concerts, I’m aware that there will be both highly experienced choral listeners in the audience and people for whom this might be their first concert since elementary school. My goal is always to create a welcoming door through which a curious listener can enter.
Chez Nous in 2018 was a special occasion during which we shared the stage with one of Canada’s most celebrated opera artists, Ben Heppner. Before his recent retirement from opera, Ben’s beautiful tenor voice took him to the most prestigious opera houses of the world, where his gripping performances garnered critical acclaim. We also welcome the delightful voices of VYC Kids and their director Cassie Luftspring. Cassie is also a featured arranger on the program and a singer in Elektra’s soprano section.
Chez Nous 2018 included several world and Canadian premieres (see the concert program below for details) and other repertoire new to Elektra.
Saturday, November 24, 2018, 7:30pm | Shaughnessy Heights United Church, Vancouver Sunday, November 25, 2018, 3:00pm | Good Shepherd Church, South Surrey
Performers:
Elektra Women’s Choir
Morna Edmundson, Artistic Director Stephen Smith, piano and organ
Ben Heppner, tenor
VYC Kids and director Cassie Luftspring
In their own solo set, VYC Kids performed Once in Royal David’s City, arranged by A.H. Mann, Welcome Yule by William Mathias, Winter Sleigh Ride by Cynthia Gray and Winter Lullaby by Pinkzebra.
Ben Heppner performed a set of four solos with pianist Stephen Smith: If I Had a Little Coat by Kenneth Walton, What Child is This?, a traditional English carol arranged by Mary O’Hara and transcribed by Eldon McBride. The Holy Boy by John Ireland, and Rise Up, Shepherd and Follow, a traditional African-American song arranged by Mark Hayes.
Our audience singalongs were Handel’s Joy to the World, arranged by Lowell Mason, with descant by John Rutter, and Winter Wonderland by Richard B. Smith and Felix Bernard, arranged by Stephen Smith.
Chez Nous: Christmas with Elektra (2018) Listener's Guide
Performance Pieces:
Canadian Work