Cameron Wilson on violin
Photo: Ashley Macdonald

 


Chor Leoni

Christmas with Chor Leoni

When & Where Dec. 19 at 7:30pm, Dec. 20 at 5pm & 8pm, and Dec. 21 at 2pm, 5pm & 8pm | St. Andrew’s-Wesley United, 1022 Nelson St.

Artistic Director Erick Lichte Featured performers Tina Chang & Karen Lee-Morlang - piano, Cameron Wilson - violin, Keith Sinclair - guitar, Laurence Mollerup - bass

Reviewer John Anthony Jane


Formed in 1992 to provide male singers an opportunity to gather and perform classical repertoire, Chor Leoni have returned once again to the sanctuary of St. Andrews-Wesley United Church to perform a programme of both sacred and secular Christmas music.

Under the leadership of artistic director Erick Lichte, the choir opened their repertoire with the first public performance of Piae Cantiones and Kim Baryluk’s ethereal The Long Night. Beginning with Cameron Wilson’s solo violin in the centre of the Nave, the sound of glorious voices from every part of the church is heard.

From the twenty-first century to something composed in the sixteenth century. Gaudete, arranged by Michael Engelhardt, is a traditional Christmas carol sung in Latin that simply means Rejoice. The choir seem to sing with a single joyful voice, while the member’s individual comportment is varied.

Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day is another carol that might also be attributed as being traditional. The choir’s treatment is airy and light, though the lyrics seem to be as much in keeping with Easter as Christmas.

Arguably the best known carol heard this evening is O Come, O Come Emmanuel, that once again features Cameron Wilson’s amplified violin. Erick Lichte’s reading of it is impeccable. Perhaps the most surprisingly enjoyable song is Kyle Pederson’s sublime arrangement of Sing We Now of Christmas (surprising because I don’t recall having heard this song before). Keagan Elrick’s dramatic blue lighting in the sanctuary brings an atmospheric element to the music.

The most modern song in the programme is Canadian singer/songwriter Ron Sexsmith’s Maybe This Christmas, that has as its theme reconciliation and forgiveness. The choir’s interpretation, to intermittent strains of Auld Lang Syne is certainly charming.

Chor Leoni concludes their programme with a set of three folk songs from three different regions: Beautiful Star of Bethlehem from Kentucky, Turlutte Acadienne Montréalaise from Quebec and Alan Doyle’s The Mummer Song from good old Newfoundland. The song is about the Christmas tradition of house-visiting that is practiced in Newfoundland.

The choir conclude the evening by way of an encore with likely the most frequently heard carol - Silent Night – a delightful joint participation of choir and audience.

© 2024 John Anthony Jane