2021-2022 Season
The Messiah Concert
CONTENTS Theater Staff.......................................................................................................... 2 Whitney Morse on The Sharon® L. Morse Performing Arts Center........................ 3 Program Note........................................................................................................ 4 Program................................................................................................................ 5 Guest Artists......................................................................................................6-8 Lobby Artist.......................................................................................................... 9 Orchestra Roster................................................................................................... 9 Chorale Roster.................................................................................................... 10 VPO Donors 2021-22 Concert Season..........................................................10-11 Coming Soon...................................................................................................... 12
STAFF Director of Operations................................................................... Jason Goedken Artistic Director.............................................................................Whitney Morse Technical Director..................................................................... Kenneth Constant Production Manager..............................................................................Jon Cronin Booking Coordinator & Administrator....................................Elizabeth Constant Executive Administrator.................................................................... Sean Graham Lighting Director..............................................................................David Krupla Assistant Lighting Director.............................................................. Lindsey Young Artist Liaison/Hospitality Management........................................... Leslie Munson Cassandra Francois Audio/Visual.........................................................................................Luke Bezio Sound/AV Designer.........................................................................Nick Erickson House Manager...................................................................................Heather Ard Director of Ticketing & Customer Relations............................... Yasmeen Stogden Promotion & Marketing...................................... The Villages Sales & Marketing Ad Sales.........................................................................The Villages Media Group
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Purchase at any of The Villages® box office locations. ©2021 The Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center.
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WHITNEY MORSE on
The Sharon L. Morse ®
PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
Dear Patron of the Arts
,
Welcome to The Sharon® L. Morse Performing Arts Center! We are so grateful to re-open our doors after such a trying season. We invite you back to view the national and international performing art tours we host here for your entertainment. Much like the building’s namesake, my grandmother, Sharon L. Morse, we love all varieties of the performing arts here. It is in her memory that I, along with my amazing team of artists and arts administrators, strive to bring many different types of the highest quality entertainment here to The Sharon. Since opening in 2015, we hope we have established a relationship of trust; that any show at The Sharon will be a show worth seeing. Perhaps you find yourself here today to see a concert of one of your favorite musicians, or to take in the national tour of a Broadway show. Either way, we encourage you to consider trying out a new show that perhaps you haven’t heard of before, knowing that it has been intentionally curated by our team. We welcome you to The Sharon: a place for you to see an old favorite, but also a place to discover your new favorite. I sincerely hope you enjoy the show today, and I look forward to seeing you here again soon!
Whitney Morse
See You at The Sharon,
Artistic Director
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PROGRAM NOTE Messiah (HWV 56) is an English-language oratorio composed in 1741 by George Frideric Handel, with a scriptural text compiled by Charles Jennens from the King James Bible, and from the version of the Psalms included with the Book of Common Prayer. It was first performed in Dublin on 13 April 1742 and received its London premiere nearly a year later. After an initially modest public reception, the oratorio gained in popularity, eventually becoming one of the best-known and most frequently performed choral works in Western music. Part I (the Nativity) has opened The Villages® Philharmonic Orchestra’s holiday season every year since 2008. Messiah is George Friederich Handel's best-known composition. It has become one of the world’s most frequently performed choral works, particularly popular during Advent season. Part I is divided into "scenes" composed of individual recitatives, in which the singer adopts a rhythm of ordinary speech, as well as arias and choruses. There are two instrumental numbers, the opening overture and the "pastoral symphony" at the mid-point of the work. The performance concludes with the jubilant "Hallelujah Chorus". Oratorio Messiah differs from Handel's other oratorios in that it does not contain an encompassing narrative, instead offering contemplation on different aspects of the Christian Messiah. The oratorio's structure follows the liturgical year: Part I corresponding with Advent, Christmas, and the life of Jesus. The birth and death of Jesus are told in the words of the prophet Isaiah, the most prominent source for the libretto. The only true "scene" of the oratorio is the annunciation to the shepherds which is taken from the Gospel of Luke. The imagery of shepherd and lamb features prominently in many movements, for example: in the aria "He shall feed His flock like a shepherd" (the only extended piece to talk about the Messiah on earth), in the opening of Part II ("Behold the Lamb of God"), in the chorus "All we like sheep", and in the closing chorus of the work "Worthy is the Lamb " The librettist arranged his compilation in "scenes" each concentrating on a topic.
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PROGRAM PART I "The prophecy and realization of God's plan to redeem mankind by the coming of the Messiah" Scene 1: "Isaiah's prophecy of salvation"(movements 2-4) Overture......................................................................................................... Orchestra Comfort ye, Comfort ye my people...................................................................... Tenor Ev'ry valley Shall be exalted.................................................................................. Tenor And the Glory of the Lord..................................................................................Chorus Scene 2: "The prophecy of the coming of Messiah and the question, despite, of what this may portend for the World" (movements 5–7) Thus saith the Lord, the Lord of Hosts The Lord whom ye seek shall suddenly come to His Temple....................................Bass But who may abide the day of His coming..............................................................Bass And He shall purify............................................................................................Chorus Scene 3: "The prophecy of the Virgin Birth" (movements 8–12) Behold, a virgin shall conceive.................................................................................Alto O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion..................................................................Alto For behold, darkness shall cover the earth................................................................Bass The people that walked in darkness.........................................................................Bass For unto us a Child is born................................................................................Chorus Scene 4: "The appearance of the Angels to the Shepherds" (movements 13–17) Pastoral Symphony There were shepherds abiding in the field......................................................... Soprano And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them................................................ Soprano Ane the angel said unto them........................................................................... Soprano And suddenly there was with the angel............................................................. Soprano Glory to God in the highest Scene 5: "Christ's redemptive miracles on earth" (movements 18–21) Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion.................................................................. Soprano Then shall the eyes of the blind be open'd................................................Alto, Soprano He shall feed His flock like a shepherd Come unto Him, all ye That labour His yoke is easy, His burthen is light..................................................................Chorus Hallelujah..........................................................................................................Chorus
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GUEST ARTISTS DANIEL BATES, TENOR Grammy Award-nominated tenor Daniel Bates enjoys a wide-ranging performance schedule in concert and opera. His operatic appearances include debuts with Anchorage Opera as Ernesto in Don Pasquale and with the Imperial Symphony as Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi, as well as a return to Anchorage Opera as the title role in Candide. His concert appearances include a return to The Arts at Grace to perform a solo recital and his Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra debut in their season opening gala. An alumnus of young artist residencies across the United States, Mr. Bates was a 2014–2016 Young Artist with Florida Grand Opera, where his repertoire included a critically acclaimed Ernesto in Don Pasquale, Ferrando in Così fan tutte, Nadir in Les pêcheurs de perles, Goro in Madama Butterfly, the Third SS Man in Mieczyslaw Weinberg's The Passenger, and the Magician (cover) in The Consul. As an Apprentice Artist with the Santa Fe Opera in 2015 and 2016, Mr. Bates performed the role of the Slave in Salome and both Junior and Charlie in the world premiere in Jennifer Higdon's Cold Mountain, a live recording of which was released by Pentatone and which has recently been nominated for a Grammy. Recognized as a young artist of significant talent, Mr. Bates is a Grant Winner in the 2016 Giulio Gari International Vocal Competition and First Place winner in the 2016 National Society of Arts Letters Voice Competition (Florida East Coast Chapter). In 2015, he received a Career Development Grant from the Sullivan Foundation. Additional competition credits include District Winner and Regional Finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, First Place winner of the East Bay Opera League Competition, and prizewinner of the Henry and Maria Holt Competition. JULIE BATMAN, SOPRANO Sings professionally with the Orlando Light Opera, Opera Orlando, Opera Tampa/ Tampa Singers, The Dicken’s Carolers, and Mary Queen of the Universe. She is a graduate of and staff professor of voice and piano at Rollins College. She has been a choral director and choral accompanist at Rollins College and she also teaches voice and piano at Lake Highland Preparatory School. Julie has been featured as a vocal soloist for several local arts organizations in Orlando. Her credits include being a featured soloist for The Villages Philharmonic Orchestra; the contemporary ballet, Carolina, Handel’s The Messiah - with the Messiah Choral Society, The Villages Philharmonic Orchestra, the Central Florida Community Arts, and the Basilica Mary Queen of the Universe Shrine. She has sung as soloist for Mozart’s Requiem, Schubert Magnificat, Vivaldi’s 6
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GUEST ARTISTS Nulla in Mundo Pax/Alleluia, Mozart’s Laudate Dominum and several other solos with Bach Festival choir, Et in Carnatus Est from Mozart’s Grand Mass in C with CFCA and has been a featured soloist on several CDs: Osterkantate Ernest Wolf Easter Cantata – Moravian Society, All is Bright – Bach Festival Choir, Ave Maria and The Basilica Choir – Stemik Music. Carolina contemporary Ballet CD and DVD. In addition to singing and teaching, Julie enjoys accompanying choral groups and playing solo piano for events. JOHN DEPAOLA John DePaola has been a full time freelance trumpeter for over 30 years. He lives in Orlando, FL where he has been a musician at Walt Disney World and a member of the Rosie O’Grady’s Goodtime Jazz Band. John has performed with entertainers such as Ray Charles, Sammy Davis Jr., Bob Hope, Johnny Mathis, Kenny Rogers, Frank Sinatra Jr., The Moody Blues, and many others. He has also played for national touring Broadway Shows like West Side Story, Hello Dolly, A Chorus Line, 42nd Street, The Producers, and Chicago. John is also a regular performer at jazz festivals across the U.S. with different groups and has also leads his own group, performing for Jazz clubs and societies in Florida. He is in his 3rd season as a member of the Dr Phillips Center Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Rodney Whitaker. As a symphony musician, John has played Principal Trumpet with The Villages Philharmonic Orchestra since 2003 and also served as Principal Trumpet with the Imperial Symphony in Lakeland, FL. He also performs with The Brevard Symphony and Orlando Philharmonic when required to do so. You can see his concert schedule and listen to his latest recording "Take Two". JohnDePaolamusic.com
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GUEST ARTISTS EMILY HEUMANN, MEZZO-SOPRANO Mezzo-soprano Emily Heumann is gaining recognition for her "credible" storytelling (Orlando Sentinel), and "delicious vocals" (Arts and Culture Texas Magazine). Last season, Emily appeared in Songs of Love at the Romanza Festivale in St. Augustine, in the world premiere of Juliano’s The Brightest Star, as Lydia in a workshop reading of Curt Tucker’s Penelope Ann’s Revenge with First Coast Opera, and as the Alto Soloist in Handel’s Messiah with The Villages® Philharmonic Orchestra. Other recent appearances include Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro with Opera Orlando and First Coast Opera, The Fox in The Little Prince with First Coast Opera, and Hansel in Hansel and Gretel with Rec Room Arts Houston. Emily was a 2018-2020 Studio Artist at Opera Orlando, where she sang Mrs. Noye in Noye’s Fludde, Nicklausse in the outreach tour of Les contes d'Hoffmann, and covered Hansel in Hansel and Gretel. She was also a 2019-2020 Emerging Artist with St. Petersburg Opera Company, where she appeared as Il Paggio/Giovanna Cover in Rigoletto, and as a soloist in Harmony: Tolerance and Acceptance. Emily enjoys performing new music, especially works by her husband, composer Eric Heumann. She has performed in dozens of new music programs across the country. She received her M.M. in Voice Performance and Pedagogy from The University of Houston. www.emilyheumann.com STEPHEN MUMBERT, BASS Stephen Mumbert is a graduate of Stetson University where he holds a B.M. in voice performance, and he also holds an M.M. in opera from The Boston Conservatory. He has participated in the young-artist programs of Seagle Music Colony (Aaron Greenspan/Morning Star, Evelyn Oakleigh/ Anything Goes), Britten-Pears (Don Giovanni/Don Giovanni, Junius/The Rape of Lucretia), Fort Worth Opera (Slim/Of Mice and Men, King Melchior/Amahl and the Night Visitors), and Opera Naples (Professor Baehr/Little Women, Morales/ Carmen). Recent performances have included Riccardo in Bellini’s I Puritani with Minnesota Concert Opera, Mozart’s Requiem with the Dakota Valley Symphony (broadcast on Twin Cities Public Television), Handel’s Messiah with The Villages® Philharmonic Orchestra and the Messiah Choral Society, BWV 19/89/90 with the Bach Festival Society of Winter Park, and a new opera project performing the lead roles of Guildenstern in Herschel Garfein’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead and Hopkins in Robert Aldridge's Sister Carrie staged with the respective Grammy award winning composers in residence.
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LOBBY ARTIST SERGEI KOSSENKO, PIANIST Pianist and composer Sergei Kossenko hails from Moscow, Russia, where he began his professional musical training at age eight. Sergei earned a dual degree in Piano and Composition from Central Music School in Moscow and a Composer's "Red Diploma" with Honors from Moscow Conservatory of Music. While living in Moscow, Sergei composed incidental music for a Russian national radio network show, and worked as an arranger for various Moscow orchestras. Sergei also toured extensively in Russia and Eastern Europe performing classical works, as well as his own compositions. In 1993, Sergei was awarded a scholarship to Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, and moved to the United States. Upon graduating from Dartmouth with a Master's Degree in Electro-Acoustic Music, Sergei utilized his music technology skills in his work for Kennedy Space Center Digital Media Lab and later for EA Sports. Since 2005, Sergei has concentrated on performing, composing, producing, and teaching in Central Florida. Sergei performs regularly with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, the Jacksonville Symphony, and at Walt Disney World, University Club of Winter Park, as well as in many local live music venues and special events as a jazz/pop musician.
ORCHESTRA ROSTER HARPSICHORD Sergei Kossenko FIRST VIOLIN Marius Tabacila, Concertmaster Stewart Kitts Michael De Jesus Ebert Ceballo José Guédez Dajiang Qi
SECOND VIOLIN Gregory Carreño Imanuel Sandoval Elizabeth Kitts Israel Mendez Cindy Qi VIOLA Angelo Goderre Rafael Ramirez Juan Carlos a Siviero Andrea Oliveira
CELLO David Calhoun Roy García Megan Savage BASS Kevin Gallagher Luis Luna TRUMPET John DePaola Dan Sopachetti TYMPANI Chris Nolin
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CHORALE ROSTER SOPRANO Ali Molnar Marissa Volpe Ashly Thomas ALTO Sarah Purser Shannon Rhomba Faith Boles Vicki Minor Bensburg Deborah Hurtt
TENOR Brandon Schneider Sean Stork Chad McLellan Stephen Velazquez BASS Kevin Harris AC James Bill Bensburg Marshall Webb
VPO DONORS 2021-22 CONCERT SEASON ORCHESTRA CIRCLE $10,000+ Anonymous Donor Joe & Marlene Borda Margaret M. Dick Donation in Memory of Carolyn Johnson MAESTRO CIRCLE $5,000 – $9,999 Crysberg Inc. Charlotte & John Gates Geraldine Irwin David & JoAnne Kelch SYMPHONY CIRCLE $2,500 – $4,999 Janice Barone Joanne & Tony Sutylo CONCERTO CIRCLE $1,000 – $2,499
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Anonymous Donor John Canner Dennis R. Carney John Collins Roger & Julie Cooper Joseph Devuono William & Judith Doran Carol Guglielm Donald & Nancy Hickman Phyllis Lachman George & Carol Majestic Win & Christine Stringer Richard & Sharon Williams Joseph Zientara OVERTURE CIRCLE $500 – $999 Avrum Abramowitz Richard Allgaier DuWayne & Bonita Carnes Maurice & Nettie Joy John Nickelson
Scott Sander Ken & Mary Shutts Augusto Bernardini SUITE CIRCLE $100 – $499 Donna Austin Tim Barry Augusto Bernardini Frank & Linda Blews Carl & Doris Branson Todd Collins Robert & Charlotte Conway Thomas Davis Joseph DeVuonno Barbara Dipol John & Bonnie Eckstein Linda Ferens Jack & Nancy Fieldman William & Gail Fraser-Giacchi Doris Goodwin Richard & Estella Hoag
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VPO DONORS 2021-22 CONCERT SEASON Dr. Bill Hole Linda Holmes Deborah Hurtt Richard & Charlene Kinder Alma Macht Nancy Padden Robert A. Phillips John & Beverly Scott Rhoderic Soutar Michael Spinelli Karen & Lowell Stockman Robert & Joan Waller Shannon & Brandon Waters Theresa R. White Sonya Wilt Sunny & Roy Witt Keith Workowski Joseph & Ginger Wray
ARIA CIRCLE Up to $499 Barbara Athanasiou Donation in Memory of Bill Barnes Kathryn Bates Jeff & Ursula Bergman Katheen Eikhof Arthur Elwood Susan Escobedo Paul F. Gaecke Kevin Gallagher Jordan Galvarino Brenda & Bob Gold David Haviland Valery Heyduk K. L. Hoffman Irene Hong-McAtee
Lora MacPherson Joanne Michalski Donald Mooty Robert Muzzi Patrice Pastore Geraldine Piscitelli Marianne Reinhard Sally Rowe Erika Schaffer Kathryn Sleeper Joyce Smidt Robert Smidt Jack & Maryann Swisher C & H Van Benthuysen Donald & Nancy Walker Eric Williams
BUSINESS PARTNERS Blackston Financial Advisors
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Fross & Fross Wealth Management
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COMING SOON
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