Review: WCSU Chamber Singer and Concert Choir Concert

Danbury, CT - The School of Visual & Performing Arts at Western CT State University presented the Chamber Singers and Concert Choir in concert at the Veronica Hagman Concert Hall on Tuesday evening. The event was completely sold out and some ticket holders had to watch the first part of the concert on a monitor before the empty seats in the beautiful new venue could be located.

The evening of choral singing began with the Chamber Singers under the direction of Kevin Jay Isaacs. The conductor announced that the theme of the concert was “love and light.” The 35 members of the select chamber group opened their program with two Mozart works. “Nocturnes for Sop, Alto, Bass & Clarinets” was sung in Italian and accompanied by Chris Denke and Javaughn Henry on clarinet and Kyle Camerato on bass clarinet. In addition to the program, a separate two-page handout was distributed by faculty members that contained texts and translations of all of the pieces that were performed. I thought this was a very nice touch; a list of the singers was also included.

“Kyrie in d, KV 341” also written by Mozart gave me chills, despite the fact that the conductor remarked that it could “scare you into being Catholic.” I wasn’t overly impressed with the first two works by Reformation composer Thomas Tallis (1505-1585.) “Incipit to The Lamentations of Jeremiah” was sung in Latin, as was “O Nata Lux de Lumine” and were written for Catholic choirs. “If You Love Me, Keep My Commandments,” an Anglican piece sung in English, was quite nice.

Thomas Morley (c.1558-1602,) famous for his madrigals, wrote a beautiful “Agnus Dei” in 1597, and this was followed by a “silly love song” entitled “I Love Alas! I Love Thee.” Morley was also the composer of “My Bonny Lass She Smileth” that was contrasted by a parody written by P.D.Q. Bach. For this final number, the chamber singers put down their music binders so that they could add some acting, bits of choreography, and a long solo by one of the members that ambushed the piece and encompassed the entire space. I loved it!

A brief turnaround allowed the members of the Concert Choir to join the chamber singer members to comprise a group of 116 voices. We watched the students fill the risers and some found a place on the floor level; the young women dressed in black and the young men were in tuxes. The huge choir was directed by Cory Ganshaw, who reiterated the theme of love, both secular and spiritual, and the brightness of light.

The first piece “Jubilate Deo” by William Walton was lovely and featured Nicole Salamon, Jessica Carpenter and Gabriela Jimenez (altos,) Sergio Mandujano, Edwin Rodríguez (tenor,) and Austin Scelzo and Adam Giard (bass.) “Verbum Supernum Prodiens” by Damijan Mocnik was written in 2001 and sung in Latin. The students memorized the piece and sang a capella. The long “Ballade to the Moon” (2011) by Daniel Elder was sung in English with piano accompaniment by Liang-Fang Chang.

The singers changed places for “Laetatus Sum” by J. Michael Haydn and it was sung in Italian. The lovely “Glow” by Eric Whitacre was sung in English and featured students on violin, viola, cello and upright bass. A piece added “just for fun” was a spectacular “Noel,” a traditional African piece arranged by Brad Holmes (translated by Todd Smith) that was sung in Kituba dialect. The singers had to put down their sheet music so that they could clap along. A group of young men were on percussion and Austin Scelzo, Edwin Rodriguez, Sam Cournoyer and William Stetson were soloists. It was a highlight of the night.

The concert concluded with a soothing lullaby called “Light in the Hallway,” arranged by Jake Narverud, that was sung a capella. “You won’t need me forever, But I’ll still be here. For we all have our nightmares, Even me, my dear.”

Overall, this was an impressive concert of choral music. Kudos to the conductors on some fine choices of music and the university students on a great performance. I was able to pick out WAMS grad Olivia Conforti and Christine Manalo in the Chamber Singers. In the huge Concert Choir I spotted Naugatuck HS grads Kaylin Spaulding, Michael Newman and my own Christian Janis. The only negative after the ninety minute performance was a ninety minute trip to get home to Naugatuck due to road work on Route 84.

Photo of the soloist courtesy of WCSU, ensemble photos by Nancy Sasso Janis