The Orcas Choral Society’s annual Christmas concert has always been my kick-off to the Christmas season. Sunday’s performance was the perfect concert because the selections were a splendid example of Baroque period, a magnificent combination of J.S. Bach’ mastery of structure and theme.
The performance in the hands of Artistic Director Roger Sherman was moving and precise, as Bach requires and the soloists were able to sing with confidence showing the best of each of their vocal abilities.
The performance of Bach’s setting of “Wachet auf” a familiar german hymn was performed with soloists, Sharon Abreu, soprano, Phillip Cutlip, baritone, Brian Teirney, tenor and Stan Miller, baritone. Abreu, a lyric coloratura soprano has a well trained instrument which she uses to interpret Bach beautifully. Cutlip, who was introduced to islanders at the Chamber Music Festival in August, has a baritone voice of amazing range evidenced by his solo in the “Magnificat.” A treat was Stan Miller, bass, a long-time member of the choral society, singing a recitative in “Wauchet auf” with confidence and feeling.
Brian Teirney, a lyric tenor, was a district winner in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and has performed in a number of baroque and madrigal concerts. His voice and abilities clearly reveal a well trained, effortless tenor. His treatment of the aria “Deposuit potentes,” who many agree is one of the most difficult in Bach’s repertoire, was a testimony to Teirney’s exquisite range and interpretation. He makes his home in Portland and it is hoped that we will hear much of him in the future.
It was obvious to those patrons who have enjoyed their concerts for so many years that Catherine Peterson, the founder of the Orcas Choral Society, has made a lasting gift to the community for by her skills and dedication, conductor Sherman has a group of singers who are anxious to continue learning and singing with a commitment they learned from Peterson.
Good news! A spring performance of Bach’s “Mass in B minor” is planned.
Eleanor Peterson
