By April Isaacs
The fourth and final movement of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony is the famous choral piece “Ode to Joy,” a melody that has come to represent political unity throughout history, from the post-Napoleonic era in which it was written to modern times as the anthem for the European Union. Now the Oratorio Society of Queens performs “Ode to Joy” this weekend as the centerpiece in a program of patriotic works, including Berlioz's “Le Marseilleuse” and John Williams' “Liberty Fanfare.”
“This is the most thematic concert we've done,” said Conductor and Artistic Director David Close, who has not performed Beethoven's “Ode to Joy” with Oratorio since 2000. “The chorus said they wanted to do it [Beethoven's Ninth Symphony] again, so I said, 'OK, sure,' and the next question became, what else do you put on the program?”
Close would quickly find inspiration from the lyrics of “Ode to Joy,” taken from the eponymous poem by German poet and philosopher Freidrich Schiller, which expresses ideas of transcendent brotherhood and the universality of the human experience. Close draws a parallel between the strong democratic statement made in “Ode to Joy” at a time when Europe was creeping back into monarchical rule after Napoleon's defeat to the need for such a strong statement in the present-day American political climate.
The first half of the concert, called “American Songs of Freedom and Hope,” focuses on patriotic American pieces. Among those being performed is “American Anthem” by composer Gene Sheer from his opera “An American Tragedy,” which premiered at the Metropolitan Opera in 2005.
“It's an affirmation of the best America is capable of,” Close said of the piece.
The first segment will also feature arrangements of “America the Beautiful,” “Armed Forces Salute,” “Battle Hymn of the Republic” and three traditional spirituals to represent the African-American experience. “There's a theme going here [in the African spirituals] of going to the Promised Land, which can mean going to heaven or getting away from slavery, so there's kind of a double meaning to the songs.” Close said.
Close has been with Oratorio since 1970, after studying conducting with John Castellini and Laszlo Halasz, the founder and first music director of the New York City Opera. He has also taught voice and conducting at the Queens College Opera Theater and in addition to his duties with Oratorio is the music director and organist at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs in Forest Hills. He has a deep affinity for classical choral music and opera, holding Puccini among his most influential and revered composers.
“It's a highly subjective thing” Close said, “but he goes where no other composer can go for me. He had this inordinate skill for just capturing your heart.”
Typically, Oratorio gives two major performances a year, a holiday show and a spring show featuring serious classical choral works as well as operatic aria medleys to showcase their soloists. The soloists for this spring's performance include Geraldine MacMillian, a soprano lauded for her renditions of Puccini and Mozart, which she has performed at such prestigious venues as New York City Opera; Jann Degnan, a mezzo-soprano who has performed with opera companies and orchestras throughout America and Europe; Jeffrey A. Easter, a heldentenor who made his debut in Beethoven's only opera, “Fidelio,” at the Empire Opera; and Vaughn Fritts, an accomplished Oratorio singer who has performed with numerous oratorio companies and societies.
David Close relates the Oratorio Society of Queens, a community chorus of Queens residents that welcomes members of all skill levels, to the themes of democracy in the works they will be performing in the May 18 concert: “The fact that we can do this in the community, for the community and by the community in the sense that these are community singers who we've hammered into shape through many rehearsals is like one of those great legacies of freedom and democracy in that more things are open to more people. More people can participate in this kind of thing that at a certain point in time might have been closed off to them.”
If you go:
Oratorio Society of Queens: Annual spring concert
When: Sunday, May 18, 4 p.m.
Where: Queenborough Community College Performing Arts Center, 222-05 56 Ave., Bayside
Cost: General, $25; Senior/Student, $20; Children 12 and under accompanied by an adult, Free
Contact: 718460-0726 or visit www.queensoratorio.org
