Bow Valley Chorus is turning to one of its favourite composers later this week for its annual spring concert.
Choir conductor John Goulart said Monday (May 4) the choir will perform two pieces by composer John Rutter, Requiem and Magnificat, in Banff on Sunday (May 11) and Calgary, Saturday (May 12).
Both concerts will feature the 60-member choir, a 30-piece orchestra and soloist Karen J. Minish.
“Rutter is probably one of the most celebrated living composers in terms of choral music. We’ve done a lot of his music over the last 12 or 14 years or so. We’re a fan of John Rutter. (His music) is very accessible. It’s beautiful music. It is spiritual music. It covers a wide range of emotion and the music itself is very loved by the general public. His music is very singable and listenable. It’s not your typical 20th century music,” Goulart said.
The choir performed Requiem in 2002 and Magnificat in 2005.
“The choir is familiar with this music and because of that, there is an experience there. The choir really enjoyed it and we thought it would be appropriate to program these pieces together because it is so accessible and also because the choir has had very good experiences with it.”
The reason for that, Goulart said, is that Rutter composes music that does not have to be performed by professionals.
“Any person, whether or not they have training in music, can get in touch with his music very easily,” he said. “His music is not easy, it’s not necessarily pop music, but it touches an element that every person can connect with.”
That doesn’t mean Rutter’s music is simple or bare bones. Instead, Goulart said, it contains complex rhythms with what he referred to as “lush orchestrations.”
“It’s going to be great, it’s going to be an excellent performance and we are looking forward to it,” he said.
Next year marks the 15th anniversary of Bow Valley Chorus and Goulart said as part of that the chorus is planning co-productions with other choirs.
A fundraising casino will allow the choir to undertake large-scale performances without having to necessarily worry about finances, he said.
“We’re looking forward to be able to perform very interesting and exciting music for the choir without having to worry about how the orchestra is going to be covered, so we’re very happy about that,” Goulart said.
The Banff concert will be held at The Banff Centre in the Rolston Recital Hall and in Calgary, the choir will perform at Knox United Church. Both concerts begin at 8 p.m.
Tickets are $25. Children 12 and under are $10. Tickets are available at Stratton’s Jewellery in Banff, Café Books in Canmore, at the door or from choir members. Go to www.bowvalleychorus.com or call for 403-762-3188 for more information.
