On Friday evening, February 3, as the St. Petersburg Symphony visits Danville, the Chatham Concert Series continues its chamber music presentations with a program geared more to the Anglophiles among us.
“English Vocal Music from Butterworth to the Beatles” will feature Baritone Dr. David Castonguay accompanied by the popular Saturn String Ensemble: the two violins of Kevin Matheson and Martin Irving, Bryan Matheson on viola, and the cello of Lisa Wright. Songs performed will be by George Butterworth, Gerald Finzi and England’s “fab four,” The Beatles.
In addition to the featured songs of England, there will be a nod to the continent with Mozart’s “Eine kleine Nachtmusik” and Dvorak’s love songs, “Cypresses,” for string quartet.
Dr. Castonguay is active in the United States and Europe as a baritone soloist, choral conductor, musical jurist and music educator and mentor. He serves as associate professor of music and director of choral activities at Radford University.
Those who’ve been watching the PBS series “Downton Abbey” will be interested to know that George Butterworth, a friend and associate of Vaughn Williams, was killed in 1916 at the World War I Battle of the Somme. He had been considered one of Europe’s most promising composers.
Like Butterworth, Finzi was an enthusiast and collector with Vaughn Williams of English folk music. Unlike Butterworth, Finzi was too young to serve in WWI and survived until 1956, although his musical work was interrupted by WWII.
Both Butterworth and Finzi set to music the poetry of some of England’s finest poets. The lyrics of this concert’s songs will be from poetry by W.E. Henley and Thomas Hardy.
Strange to think of the overlapping lives of Gerald Finzi and the four lads from Liverpool, but overlap they did, and concert-goers can expect a treat as the musical genius of The Beatles is presented in arrangements for string quartet.
As is the Chatham Concert Series’ tradition, promising young music students will also join the program for one piece, gaining valuable performance experience. Those performing music from Super Mario will be Julian Ayers, Alyssa Arminan, Staley Lyle and Jacob Tisdale on violin and Caleb Tisdale on viola.
“English Vocal Music from Butterworth to the Beatles” will be held Friday evening, February 3, at 7:00 p.m.; Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 66 N. Main Street, Chatham; Admission by donation.
