We love a double-bill in candlelight! CCC is thrilled to be bringing back the gorgeous candlelight atmosphere to our audiences this season with our third performance ever of the Frank Martin “Mass For Double Choir”. It’s a favourite with the first performance in 2018, 2021, and now 2026.
The concert will also feature the hauntingly beautiful Vespers by American-Canadian (of Ukrainian descent) composer Roman Hurko. “Vespers” had its Ottawa premiere in April 2013, performed by the Ewashko Singers at St. Joe’s. Hurko’s “Vespers” will be sung in Ukrainianized Slavonic.
“Martin’s Mass is notable for its flowing rhythmic and melodic vitality – always at the service of the words – and the juxtaposition of austere, restrained music, often based around a pedal note, with rich harmonic writing of considerable passion and great beauty. Although there are no actual plainsong themes in the work, the influence of Gregorian plainsong is never far away, not least at the very opening where a simple, flowing alto line gradually unfolds, soon to be taken up by the sopranos and then supported by the full choirs.” – Author: John Bawden