December 19, 2003:
Shtriker Conservatory,
Tel-Aviv

 

The performance took place on a Friday afternoon, in the Shtriker Conservatory in Tel-Aviv (designed by Lerman Architects). In this performance we were accompanied by Galathea quartet, and by Ina Dudiakov on the organ & piano.

 
program   photos   sound clips   links   review

 

program:

* Benjamin Britten - Rejoice in the Lamb, Festival Cantata
First performed on 21 Sept 1943, Britten's Rejoice in the Lamb, or Festival Cantata, was written for the 50th anniversary of the consecration of St. Matthew's Church in Northampton.
The text for the cantata is excerpted from a poem entitled "Jubilate Agno", by Christopher Smart. The eighteenth century poet was in an insane asylum when he wrote it, and although there is a delightful sense of madness in the poem, the religious character of the work is the most striking. The manuscript is not complete, and the fragments of it were not found until 1939. Their discoverer, William Stead, published them under the name "Rejoice in the Lamb." Britten chose ten of the most celebratory and religious sections to set to music. Solo parts performed by Shahar Choir Members: Ayelet Naveh (Soprano), Noa Nativ (Alto), Dan Dunkelblum (Tenor), Ariel Friedmann (Bass).

Interesting quote from the cantata: "For I will consider my cat Jeoffry. For he is the servant of the living God, duly and daily serving him. For at the fisrt glance of the glory of God in the East he worships in his way. For this is done by wreathing his body seven times round with elegant quickness..."

* Bach - Cantata 4 - "Christ lag in Todesbanden"
Sinfonia
Chorus (verse 1): Christ lag in Todesbanden
Duet (verse 2, soprano/alto): Den Tod niemand zwingen kunnt - Yifat Rott (Soprano), Noa Shenhar (Alto)
Aria (verse 3, tenor): Jesus Christus, Gottes Sohn - Dan Dunkelblum (Tenor)
Chorus (verse 4): Es war ein wunderlicher Krieg
Aria (verse 5, bass): Hier ist das rechte Osterlamm - Amnon Seelig (Visiting Bass)
Duet (verse 7, soprano/tenor): So feiern wir das hohe Lied - Nadia Lipchach (Soprano), Boaz Brill (Tenor)
Chorus (verse 8): Wir essen und leben wohl


* Bach - Cantata 150 - "Nach dir, Herr, verlanget mich"
Sinfonia (verse 1)
Coro (verse 2) - Nach Dir, Herr, verlanget mich
Aria (verse 3, soprano) - Doch bin und bleibe ich vergnügt - Nadia Lipchach (Soprano)
Coro (verse 4) - Leite mich
Aria (verse 5, Alto/Tenor/Bass) - Zedern müssen vor den Winden - Noa Nativ (alto), Dan Dunkelblum (tenor), Amnon Seelig (visiting Bass)
Coro (verse 6) - Meine Augen sehen stets zu dem Herrn
Tutti (verse 7, Ciacona) - Meine Tage in dem Leide

 

photos:

 

Britten - Rejoice in God oh ye tongues...

 

 

 

 
 


Britten soloists taking a bow (left to right: Ayelet Naveh - soprano, Noa Nativ - Alto, Dan Dunkelblum - Tenor, Ariel Friedmann - Bass), organist Ina Dudiakov standing on the left behind the piano, and conductor Gila Brill in the right corner:

  
   


Bach - Cantata 4:

* photos by Guedalia Naveh


sound clips:

Listen to Dan Dunkelblum sing the beautiful tenor solo from Britten's "Rejoice in the Lamb" (2.26MB).

 

Listen to the choir sing "wir essen und lebben woll" from Bach's cantata 4 as recorded in the Dormition church on October 25, 2003 (0.96MB)

 

links:

CLICK HERE to read more about Bach's cantatas
CLICK HERE to read more about Britten

review:

CLICK HERE to read the concert review (from Haaretz newspaper, in hebrew)

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