The St. Lawrence Choir presents

Destinées

An exceptionally rich program highlights two contrasting journeys: that of the artist, a solitary dreamer who shapes the world through his art, and that of the power-hungry man, whose arrogance leads to his downfall.

The St. Lawrence ChoirWalton’s searing oratorio Belshazzar’s Feast, composed for baritone, chorus and orchestra, takes as its story the scene from the Bible in which, at a feast for King Belshazzar, a hand appears and prophetically writes a divine message on the wall.

Often compared to Orff’s Carmina Burana for its driving pulse and barbaric splendor, Belshazzar’s Feast is now considered the best large-scale British choral work since Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius.

Coupled with William Walton’s grandiose work is the intimate, nostalgic cantata by Edward Elgar, another of Britain’s leading composers, in which we hear several quotations from his own works. Originally written for soprano or tenor, orchestra and chorus, but which you will hear with contralto, The Music Makers is inspired by the idea that artists are the true creators and artisans of history and society.

Artists
St. Lawrence Choir

The St. Lawrence Choir, a mixed-voice ensemble under the direction of Philippe Bourque, performs music from the classical choral repertoire as well as contemporary works by Canadian and other composers.

In addition to performing in its subscription season concerts, the Choir has appeared at the Festival international de Lanaudière, the Festival Montréal en Lumière and the Montreal Bach Festival. It has
also worked on collaborative projects with the Cantata Singers of Ottawa, the Montreal Choral Institute, Vanier College and the Chœur du Musée d’art de Joliette.

Founded by the late Iwan Edwards in 1972, the St. Lawrence Choir performed for many years with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra as the principal component of the MSO chorus, participating in numerous recordings as well as concerts in Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Philadelphia, Saratoga Springs and New York

Université de Montréal Choir, Matthew Lane, Director

Orchestra of the St. Lawrence Choir

Philippe Bourque, orchestra and choir conductor

A versatile and passionate musician, Philippe Bourque made a reputation for himself in the last two decades in Montreal’s classical music scene with different ensembles, including orchestras and choirs. His expertise ranges from early music to jazz, with a specialty for the large vocal-orchestral repertoire.

Rose Naggar-Tremblay, contralto

Recently awarded the prestigious Fernand-Lindsay Career Grant, Canadian contralto Rose Naggar-Tremblay is a graduate of McGill University and the Atelier lyrique de l’Opéra de Montréal, and has been studying with Lena Hellström-Färnlöf since 2020.

In 2021, she made her acclaimed debut at the Sofia Opera in the role of Carmen, going on to win First Prize in the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal Competition and First Prize in the Georges Enesco International Competition.

In 2022, she was named Révélation Radio-Canada, and won Second Prize in the Prix d’Europe competition. She also won various prizes at the Sembrich and Premiere Opera Foundation competitions in New York.

An accomplished musician, she frequently lends her voice to chamber music, taking part in numerous concerts and recitals. She has recently sung as a soloist in Elgar’s Sea Pictures, Palmeri’s Magnificat, Handel’s Messiah, Vivaldi’s Dixit Dominus, the Requiems of Mozart, Duruflé and Verdi, as well as numerous Bach Cantatas, under the direction of renowned conductors including Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Rafael Payare, Jean-Marie Zeitouni, Jacques Lacombe and Laurence Equilbey.

Jorell Williams, baritone

Jorell Williams is known for having “a solid vocal core and easy, natural production” (Opera News), and “a deliciously resonant baritone voice” (Broadway World) has been heralded as “a rock-solid singer with a keen understanding of his own expressive depths” (The Wash- ington Post), is gracing the world’s most prominent concert and opera stages.

Now based in Toronto, Mr. Williams recent performances include debut engagements with Greek National Opera, The Ottawa Choral Society. Symphony Nova Scotia, Opera Omaha, Catapult Opera, The Canadian Art Song Project, and returns to the Elmer Iseler Singers, the National Philharmonic Orchestra and Brooklyn Art Song Society.

Jorell is widely recognized for his concert work, having performed as a soloist in Bach’s Magnificat, Handel’s Messiah, Orff’s Carmina Burana as well as Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem, Vaughan Williams Dona Nobis Pacem and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony.

Jorell has appeared with the Omaha Symphony, South Dakota Symphony, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Amadeus Choir, and Juneau Symphony.

Saturday, March 22, 2025 at 7:30pm
Maison symphonique

To purchase your tickets, visit: www.placedesarts.com