Concert Season 2008-2009

The Winnipeg Singers.

2008-2009
Season Brochure

(594 KB - PDF)

CONCERT 1
FU WHAT?!? – Songs from the Finno Ugric Tradition
3:00 p.m. Sunday, September 28, 2008
Westworth United Church (map)

The Winnipeg Singers
Yuri Klaz, Conductor
Tiina Heimonen, Kantele
Scandia Funfolk Dancers

Single Ticket Prices
Adults $25.00
Seniors $22.00
Students $10.00

Tickets available at McNally Robinson Booksellers and at the door.



Title got your attention? Good! The Winnipeg Singers open their 36th annual season with a concert celebrating the rich choral traditions of three countries from the Finno Ugric region. We begin with the sounds of the ancient Finnish rune and the kantele, the native instrument of Finland and experience the beautiful folk music of Jean Sibelius. We travel to Hungary with its rich choral tradition and national composers Bela Bartok and Zoltan Kodaly. We continue on our journey to Estonia and the ancient folk traditions of its peoples, featuring composers Cyrillus Kreek, Arvo Pärt and Veljo Tormis. To conclude our concert, we come full circle and return to Finland and music of the country’s world-renowned contemporary composer Einojuhani Rautavaara, whose music incorporates the signature rhythmic patterns found in the ancient runes. The Winnipeg Singers welcome Tiina Heimonen, kantele player and The Scandia Funfolk Dancers to further bring the folk traditions of this powerful music to life.

Traditional Finnish Rune
Jean Sibelius Journey on the Boat
Jean Sibelius The Broken Voice
Jean Sibelius Song of my Heart
Bela Bartok Two Hungarian Folk Songs
Veljo Tormis Votic Wedding Songs
Zoltan Kodaly Jesus and the Traders
Cyrillus Kreek Psalms of David
Arvo Part Three Magnificat Antiphons
E. Rautavaara Herran Rukous
E. Rautavaara Credo

To request more information by e-mail, click here





CONCERT 2
MAGNIFICAT – The Christmas Music of John Rutter
7:00 p.m. Sunday, December 14, 2008
Knox United Church, (map)

The Winnipeg Singers
Renaissance Voices
Members of the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra
Yuri Klaz, conductor
Lara Ciekiewicz, soprano
Bernard Boland, narrator

Single Ticket Prices
Adults $25.00
Seniors $22.00
Students $10.00

Tickets available at McNally Robinson Booksellers and at the door.




The Winnipeg Singers together with Renaissance Voices and the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Yuri Klaz present the music of John Rutter, one of the most successful and well-known composers of choral music of our time. Rutter is universally known for his infectious melodic invention, consummate craftsmanship and sparkling orchestration so evident in his many delightful and joyous compositions. If you are drawn to beautiful and emotional spirit filled music, the Magnificat is for you. We have also chosen some of his best-loved Christmas compositions. For anyone who has never heard Rutter's music, this concert is a MUST! A donkey even makes an appearance. Make plans to start your Christmas celebrations with us!

Magnificat
Shepherds Pipe Carol
Love Came Down at Christmas
Candlelight Carol
Brother Heinrich's Christmas
Angel's Carol
What Sweeter Music
Star Carol

For more information about the concert and a special offer for parking at Portage Place with shuttle service to and from the church, please email info@winnipegsingers.com.



CONCERT 3
ICONS AND INCENSE II – Choral Music from the Russian Orthodox Tradition
3:00 p.m. Sunday, January 25, 2009
Knox United Church (map)

The Winnipeg Singers and Associates
Singers of The Winnipeg Singers Mentoring Program
Yuri Klaz, Conductor

Single Ticket Prices
Adults $25.00
Seniors $22.00
Students $10.00


Tickets available at McNally Robinson Booksellers and at the door.




No choir in Canada sings this repertoire better than The Winnipeg Singers, under Yuri’s Klaz’s inspiring direction. Every two years we present a concert showcasing the rich and powerful music of the Russian Orthodox choral tradition – music that touches the very depths of the soul. For the New Year, we feature the Russian colossus Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky and his Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom first performed in 1879. This major work, containing 15 liturgical movements taken from the Russian Orthodox liturgy, is presented with the choral concertos of three composers whose lives intersected with Tchaikovsky: Dmitry Bortniansky, whose entire choral concerto repertoire he edited, Sergei Rachmaninov, one of his pupils at the Moscow conservatory and Alexander Archangelsky, his contemporary and one of the most prominent and prolific Russian church musicians prior to the Revolution. The Winnipeg Singers welcome their associate members and mentoring students, expanding the choir to 32 voices for this concert. A concert definitely not to be missed!

Dmitry Bortniansky The King Shall Joy in Thy Strength, O Lord
Dmitry Bortniansky I Lift Up My Eyes to the Mountains
Alexander Archangelsky I Think Upon The Fearful Day
Sergei Rachmaninov The Theotokos, Ever-Vigilant in Prayer
Peter Tchaikovsky Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, Op.41

To request more information by e-mail, click here

For more information about the concert and a special offer for parking at Portage Place with shuttle service to and from the church, please email info@winnipegsingers.com.



PASSPORT PLEASE! – A Canadian / American Cross-Border Choral Celebration

CONCERT 4
PASSPORT PLEASE! – A Canadian / American Cross-Border Choral Celebration
4:00 p.m. Sunday, March 29, 2009
Westworth United Church (map)

The Winnipeg Singers
Yuri Klaz, Conductor
Verna Wiebe, Piano
Karl Stobbe, Violin
Owen Clark and Friends, percussion

Single Ticket Prices
Adults $25.00
Seniors $22.00
Students $10.00


Tickets available at McNally Robinson Booksellers and at the door.


Buy Tickets Now

Have your passport yet? Time’s running out! The Winnipeg Singers help prepare you for this major change in our cross border travel relationship with a concert that celebrates composers from both sides of the 49th parallel. Anticipating the coming of spring, this concert features lighter and joyful music designed to lift you out of the (hopefully) final doldrums of winter. The music will raise your spirits with achingly beautiful melodies, humorous texts and stunning accompaniments. We welcome pianist Verna Wiebe to provide the virtuoso touch required for many of the concert pieces. Special guest, violinist, Karl Stobbe will join us for Eric Whitacre’s Five Hebrew Love Songs. Passport applications will, of course, be available!

Aaron Copland Old American Songs
Stephen Chatman Due West
John Greer Liebeslied–Lieder
Paul Halley Freedom Trilogy
Derek Holman Songs of Youth
Spiritual Certn'y Lord
Spiritual Swing Low Sweet Chariot
Spiritual Battle of Jericho
Eric Whitacre Five Hebrew Love Songs

To request more information by e-mail, click here



Programming and venue subject to change without notice.