Boone's citizen singers ready to tackle Bach, Beethoven

CHESAPEAKE

The Chesapeake Civic Chorus will get downright classical for its annual Winter Concert on Sunday.

According to director emeritus Geraldine Boone, there's no set program. The 25 or so citizen singers plan to perform three sacred classical pieces along with a 1940 work by the esteemed American choral composer Randall Thompson, a favorite of Boone's.

"I don't do themed concerts," Boone said. "But I decided to do some major choral works not generally heard in this area, along with a favorite by Bach."

The Thompson piece will be his 1940 work "Alleluia," an introspective choral piece commissioned by world famous conductor and musician Serge Koussevitzky.

"It's quiet and very relaxing," Boone said of the Thompson composition. "And he loves the quality of alto voices in this work."

The chorus will also tackle Beethoven, performing the Hallelujah Chorus from his 1802 Op, 85, "Christ on the Mount of Olives."

"So, we'll present two versions of hallelujah to our audience, both different and both wonderful showcases for voices," Boone said.

In keeping with the sacred classical direction, the concert will also feature J.S. Bach's early 18th century cantata "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" and Franz Schubert's 1825 romantic vocal work "The Omnipotence," Op. 79, no. 2.

"A church that no longer had the singers to perform this work sent me the music; and we certainly have the voices to bring it off," Boone said of the Schubert piece. "It's a triumphant work. The dynamics go from quietness and tranquility to end with the entire chorus joining in on the last three notes."

Boone said the rest of the program will be rounded out by the chorus?? forte, classic spirituals, with backing from longtime piano accompanist Cecilia Hamlin.

"We always do traditional Negro spirituals; the audience expects that and we love to sing them," she said. "It's our way to keep these wonderful songs alive."

Helping inject life into one of the spirituals, and an aria, will be the baritone voice of guest soloist Alonza Lawrence, a Norfolk State University music graduate student who has performed with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra and the Virginia Opera.

Lawrence will sing "Avant de quitter ces lieux," an aria from "Faust" by Charles Gounod, and Shelton Becton's arrangement of the spiritual "Great Day."

"He was a guest of ours at a November church concert," said Boone, a member of the NSU graduate music faculty. "When he sang, right away I thought he needs to be heard by our winter concert audience. I've seen him mature vocally and he's a dynamic singer."

Boone is certain this annual winter vocal showcase will warm the hearts of Chesapeake music lovers.

"As usual, we offer something for everyone," she said. "We're ready to sing."

Eric Feber, 222-5203,eric.feber@pilotonline.com