February 4, 2006 7:30 pm
Great Hall, GBPAC, Cedar Falls
University of Northern Iowa Chamber Singers
Brahms – Variations on a Theme of Joseph Haydn
Mozart – Misericordias Domini
Handel, arr. Mozart – Messiah, Choral selections
Mozart – Kyrie
Strauss – Suite from Der Rosenkavalier
Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony Orchestra celebrates Mozart’s birth in concert
By George F. Day
Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier
February 8, 2006
The most recent concert by the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony Orchestra, 'Chorus & Classics,' was performed at the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center. The program, featuring the University of Northern Iowa Chamber Singers, was conducted by music director Jason Weinberger. The Chamber Singers, a select group of 28 UNI students, had been masterfully prepared for their four selections by director Brad Barrett.
The choral works honored Mozart, who was born exactly 250 years ago. He wrote two of the pieces and rearranged the other two, which were originally composed by Handel – choruses from Messiah: 'Surely he hath borne our griefs' and 'Hallelujah.' The Chamber Singers performed these works with much feeling and great precision. And the orchestral accompaniment was splendid also.
The other two choral works were religious ones: a Kyrie and Misericordias Domini. Both pieces are very solemn, of course, the Kyrie ['Lord have mercy on us'] is usually the first part of a Mass, and the Misericordias [with an almost identical text] is a psalm of supplication often used during Holy Week. The Chamber Singers and the orchestra conveyed just the right mix of lamentation and triumph.
A reduced orchestral ensemble played Brahms’ Variations on a Theme by Haydn. Their performance brought out nicely the dramatic differences of not only keys but moods in the several variations. The audience went wild over the final number, a suite of music from the opera 'Der Rosenkavalier' by Richard Strauss.
From the captivating opening cries of the French horn [marvelously played by Dan Malloy Jr.] to the spirited and melodic closing waltz, Strauss' music is absolutely enchanting. Kudos for brilliant performances by Tom Barry [oboe], Claudia Anderson [flute], Jo Nardolillo Fetter [violin], Randy Grabowski [trumpet], Eric Wachman [clarinet], and other principal players.
Note: All reviews are edited for length and spelling.