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Latest Press
MOZART REQUIEM
...Valentin Radu caught the personal fervor of the music in all its varied expressions. One felt as much as heard the music, and that was made especially possible because so much of the singing and playing was excellent in caliber. Soprano Andrea Lauren Brown was especially affecting in her solos. Mount Airy mezzo Jody Kidwell and tenor Kenneth Garner (a longtime soloist at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Chestnut Hill) also sang well. The chorus proffered impressive power, clear diction, broadly based dynamics, sharp rhythms, and emotional delineation through the text. The orchestra played with style and passion, all under Radu's demanding baton. Brown was also admirably heard in the motet prior to intermission.
- Noteworthy, Chestnut Hill LOCAL 4/9/09 by Michael Caruso. (MOZART REQUIEM, Mar. 27th at the Kimmel Center, Philadelphia, PA)
JUDAS MACCABAEUS
...Radu and his forces -- including Roxborough
harpsichordist Bronwyn Fix-Keller -- acquitted themselves more than honorably if not quite
spectacularly...by the second and third parts of "Judas Maccabeus," [Radu] was eliciting exciting singing from his choir, ...good playing from his baroque orchestra, and several excellent performances from his soloists.
Chief among these was tenor Timothy Bench, who sang the oratorio's title role. Bench was in fine voice Friday evening. His projection was exemplary, his tone was clear yet unforced, his high notes rang with clarion brilliance yet he employed soft singing to telling dramatic effect, his diction was excellent, and he embellished the vocal line with stylistically appropriate bravura and emotionally compelling expressivity... soprano Andrea Lauren Brown sang with tonal beauty and dramatic exuberance as the Israelitish woman. Alto Tatyana Rashkovsky, tenor Dana Wilson and baritone Richard Shapp rounded out the vocal cast admirably. Among the instrumentalists, Fix-Keller's fine playing was joined by flutists Colin St. Martin & Steven Zohn, cellist Vivian Barton-Dozer and trumpeter Elin Frazier. Many of the same forces will return to the Perelman Theater on Friday, March 27, at 8 p.m. for a performance of Mozart's Requiem Mass.
- Noteworthy, Chestnut Hill LOCAL 2/12/09 by Michael Caruso. (Handel Judas Maccabaeus, Feb. 27th at the Kimmel Center, Philadelphia, PA)
HANDEL CANDLEMAS
...the most
convincing renditions were the three solo concerti: the Oboe Concerto in G minor with soloist Sarah Davol, the Flute Concerto in D major with Steven Zohn,
and the Suite in D for Trumpet, Strings & Continuo with Elin Frazier. Davol expressively projected the intimate sweetness of tone of the mellow baroque oboe. Zohn proffered such delicacy of color and eloquence of phrasing with the wooden baroque flute that one truly lamented its modern replacement by silver, gold or platinum. And Frazier proved that the baroque trumpet produced a singing, rather than a ringing, tone. In all three works, Radu led the period
instruments of the Camerata Ama Deus with sensitivity to his soloists'
interpretations.
- Noteworthy, Chestnut Hill LOCAL 03/05/09 by Michael Caruso. (Handel Candlemas, Feb. 7th at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Chestnut Hill, PA)
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A Glorious Season It Was -
and a Preview Of The Exciting
2009-2010 XXIII Concert Season!
Notes From The Maestro
June 1st, 2009
Dear friends of Vox Ama Deus,
The glorious Season XXII closed with its last concert this past Sunday at Daylesford Abbey, which premiered Handel's Te Deum and Coronation Anthems, in addition to "yours truly" playing & conducting my favorite organ concerto. It was a fitting and perfect finale!
 What a magnificent season this was for all three "team members" of Vox Ama Deus (ie: Vox Renaissance Consort, Ama Deus Ensemble, and Camerata Ama Deus): notably the two Kimmel Center concerts performed by the Ama Deus Ensemble, which both were recorded live and released on the Lyrichord Classics label, ( Missa Solemnis in November and Judas Maccabaeus in February), as well as Camerata's debut at both St. Paul's in Chestnut Hill and the Kimmel Center (the latter also recorded live and soon to be released on Lyrichord!) Of course, the sold out attendance at the Kimmel Center and repeat performance at Daylesford Abbey of Mozart's Requiem must also be recalled fondly!
Now I am so pleased to announce the next Season (XXIII and counting) which is equally exciting, and then some! The "equally exciting" portion is obvious if one looks at the programs offered and knows the top notch performance quality. The "then some" department has to do with several categories:
The first is the dual celebration by both Camerata and the Ama Deus Ensemble of Haydn's bicentennial, which the world is celebrating this year (2009), and which makes the debut of this famous Austrian composer in Vox's programming.
The second is the addition of four new and exciting concert venues: The Church of St. Martin in the Fields in Chestnut Hill, Old St. Joseph's Church in Olde City Philadelphia, St. John Vianney Church in Gladwyne, and The Norbert Atrium at Daylesford Abbey.
Additional highlights of the upcoming season include triple performances by Vox Renaissance Consort of the Christmas favorite Renaissance Noel, and not to be missed: Camerata Ama Deus offering HaydnFest and Festa Vivaldi. A high note will be the return (after six years) of the celebrated Brahms Requiem offered as two performances: Palm Sunday at Daylesford Abbey, and Good Friday at the Kimmel Center!
(Stay In Tune for more information on our website and in our email Newsletter. To receive our printed brochure just after Labor Day, be sure to join our print mailing list by clicking the "update profile/email address" link at the bottom of this newsletter.)
Have a great summer!
With Best Renaissance, Baroque & Classical wishes, VR (Maestro Valentin Radu) Insure Your Friends Get Our Brochure! Have them go to the Vox Ama Deus website to sign up for our newsletter and mailing list! |
2009 DONATIONSThank you for your continued and renewed donations! The wonderful programs of Vox Ama Deus are only possible with your support.
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