|
(Posted 7 a.m., May 10)
Coro
Vivo anniversary concert a retrospective walk down memory
lane
By Fred Sherwin
Orléans Online
 |
|
Coro Vivo celebrated its 30th anniversary
Friday night with a musical walk down memory
lane that appropriately reflected the ensemble's
eclectic repertoire over the years. Fred Sherwin
Photo
|
|
It's been 30 years since a group of 17 friends first got
together in Blackburn Hamlet to form what would eventually
become Coro Vivo Ottawa.
Pam
Robin is the last remaining member of what was then called
the Blackburn Chorus. She still remembers the first time
they performed in front of an audience at a nursing home
on Montreal Road.
"It
was being televised by Rogers cable vision and we were
scared stiff," recalls Robin.
The
original group of 17 was formed by Irene Thompson and
Joan Eustace. They would go on to perform at retirement
homes. hospitals, schools and anywhere else they were
welcomed.
Gary
Yates joined the chorus in 1989. He was "recruited"
by his wife who coaxed him into joining the ensemble after
he drove her to one of the practices.
"It
was the best decision I never made," jokes Yates.
From
its humble beginnings in Blackburn Hamlet, Coro Vivo has
grown into one of premier choral ensembles in the city
as evident by the quality and eclecticism of their anniversary
concert on Friday night.
The
first half of the program began with "It's Grand
Night For Singing " from the Rodgers and Hammerstein
musical "The State Fair" with Louise Lévillé
providing accompaniment on piano as she has been doing
for the better part of the past 20 years.
The
next three songs were all chosen to reflect the ensemble's
versatility, starting with the title song from Andrew
Lloyd Weber's "Phantom of the Opera". They then
sang "Panis Angelicus", taken from the hymn
"Sacris solemniis" by Saint Thomas Aquinas,
followed by the American spiritual song "Sweet Chariot"
which literally ended on high note delivered by tenor
Nancy McCaughan which made the hair on my arm stand up.
The
rest of the opening set included songs from the chorus'
earlier years such as "Sunrise, Sunset", "A
Gaelic Blessing" and "Peter in da Sea, Sea,
Sea" which was frolicking good fun as was the final
song of the set "Jing-ga-lye-ya".
After
a brief intermission the chorus and the audience were
back for more, starting with an inspirational performance
of the first part of the "Gloria, In Excelsis "
hymn. It proved to be the perfect warm up for the magic
that was to come.
The
chorus chose one of their favourite songs next, "Va
Pensiero" from the Giuseppe Verdi opera "Nabucca",
followed by a song that's near and dear to my heart, "Away
From the Roll of Sea", by Cape Breton singer, songwriter,
historian and storyteller Allister MacGillivray.
But
the highlight of the evening was still to come as the
chorus switched its musical focus to its most recent period
under the tutelage Antonio Llaca, who took over as conductor
from David Chin in 2006.
One
of the first concerts Coro Vivo held under Llaca's direction
was "Navidad Nuestra" which was a wonderful
tribute to the maestro's Latin American heritage, and
one of the best pieces they sang that evening was "Misa
Criolla, Gloria".
The
chorus performed a reprisal of that magical moment Friday
night with guest soloist Sylvia Larrass once again taking
centre stage, and if possible, it was even better the
second time around with guitarist Christian Flores and
percussionist Juan Louis Vasquez providing musical accompaniment
and Mother Nature providing some dramatic lighting as
lightning strikes flashed in the window above and behind
the stage.
Next
up on the program was the whimsical "Juramento"
by Cuban composer Miguel Matamoros, followed by another
Coro Vivo classic "Cantique de Jean Racine"
by the 19th century French composer Gabriel Fauré.
The
chorus traveled back down east for its next song, selecting
another piece by McGillivray entitled "Here's to
Song" with McCuaghan providing the lead vocal. Next
up on the program was "Hymn to Freedom" by Canadian
jazz legend Oscar Peterson. They then ended the program
with their own unique version of "The Barber of Seville
Overture", before inviting all the former chorus
members in the audience to join them for an encore.
The
entire program provided the perfect celebration for the
little community choir that has truly blossomed over the
years into a choral ensemble that now totals 51 members
from across Ottawa.
I'm
sure there is still a lot more magic to come starting
with their annual holiday concert in December. I can hardly
wait.
(This
story was made possible thanks to the generous support of
our local business partners.)
|
THE OTTAWA SCHOOL OF THEATRE presents an all ages production of Treasure Island in the Richcraft Theatre at the Shenkman Arts Centre. Showtimes Thursday, April 18 and Friday, April 19 at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday, April 20 and Sunday, April 21 at 1:30 p.m. Tickets $20 for adults. Students and youth 25 and under $10. To purchase visit 
TAPROOM 260 presents Michael Ben-Shalom live from 8-11 p.m. at 260 Centrum Blvd. For more information visit 
TAPROOM 260 presents The Underground live from 8-11 p.m. at 260 Centrum Blvd. For more information visit 
CLASSIC PIANO RECITAL – Orléans pianist Emily Hou will be performing works by Chopin, Mozart, Rachmaninov and Liszt at Kanata United Church as part os the Beaverbrook Community Concert Series. The recital will start promptly at 3 p.m. Kanata United Church is located at 33 Leacock Dr. in Kanata. For more information visit 
THE ORLÉANS BREWING CO. Trivia Night from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Call (613) 834-9005 to reserve your spot. The Orléans Brewing Co. is located at 4380 Innes Rd. near the Innes Road McDonalds.
