A superb performance – Viktor Kalabis’s Canticum Canticorum – at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, New York City. Maestro Kent Tritle conducted the Musica Sacra Chorus and Orchestra, with contralto Nicole Joy Mitchell and tenor John Riesen.
Maestro Tritle noted: “The Cathedral was packed for this performance. The Czech Consul General Arnošt Kareš eloquently set the stage with a heartfelt and inspiring oration before the performance. After the performance, a toast to the great Czech composer Kalabis was made in the massive Gothic space, and a sense of celebration was keen. The concert began with Prayer for Ukraine by Lysenko, and included works of Brahms, the Te Deum of Pärt and a world premiere by the composer Wang Jie.
“Viktor Kalabis’ Canticum Canticorum is a cantata in the great spiritual tradition of Bach and Buxtehude. A frequent feature of those earlier cantatas was dialogue between vocal soloists, often in the form of a duet. Another feature was the presence of the chorus, usually framing the cantata as bookends and set in a way that enhanced the musical architecture of the piece. Kalabis has done that with his Canticum Canticorum. In this case, highly dramatic writing for contralto and tenor soloists brings the highly evocative and sensual text to life. Music for chorus punctuates key moments in the through-composed drama, and keen orchestration highlights the emotional texture from beginning to end. Of special note is the incorporation of five heraldic trumpet fanfares, which also highlight the superb form of this masterwork.”