Chan Centre for the Performing Arts
Handel’s La Resurrezione with PBO
Artists: Angelo: Emma Fekete, Maria Magdalena: Jacqueline Woodley, Maria Cloephas: Rose Naggar-Tremblay, St-John Evangelist: James Reese, Lucifer: Jonathan Wood, with the Pacific Baroque Orchestra, directed by Alexander Weimann
Pre-concert Chat: TBA
Runtime: Approximately 90 minutes, with intermission
In 1708, George Frideric Handel was just twenty-three years old, a German Lutheran who had been in Rome for only two years, when he undertook one of the most profound subjects of Catholic liturgy: the Passion and Resurrection of Christ. In La Resurrezione, Handel encapsulates all the operatic styles and languages available at the time. The story is bookended by the transcendent fight between heaven and hell, personified by an angel and Lucifer; the earthly actors are Mary Magdalene, Mary Cleophas and John the Baptist. A stellar team of 5 soloists will join the festive orchestra forces with trumpets, oboes, recorders, flute, bassoon, strings, gamba, harpsichord and theorbo.
PROGRAMME:
G.F Handel (1685-1759)
La Resurrezione, HWV 47
Parte Prima
Interval
Parte Seconda
Emma Fekete, Angelo
Jacqueline Woodley, Maria Magdalena
Canadian soprano Jacqueline Woodley has been praised for her fearless versatility, changing styles fluidly from early music to contemporary, from opera to art song.
Recent performances include her Montreal Symphony Orchestra debut under Kent Nagano; the role of Adele (Die Fledermaus) with Edmonton Opera; appearances at the Vancouver Early Music Festival and the Ottawa International Music Festival with Les Voix Baroques; a soprano and trumpet programme for Clavecin en Concert and La Fête de la Musique de Mont-Tremblant; and Handel’s Messiah both for the National Arts Centre Orchestra and in a staged version for Against the Grain Theatre.
Sought after for her “exceptional talent” in performing modern works, Jacqueline created the role of Milice-Bride in the première of Ana Sokolovic’s opera Svaba-Wedding with Queen of Puddings Music Theatre, as well as the American première with Philadelphia Opera and subsequent Canadian and European tours. Other well-received performances of contemporary music include works by György Kurtág, Kaija Saariaho and Judith Weir.
A recent alumna of the Canadian Opera Company Studio Ensemble (2010-2012), she performed and covered several main stage roles, among which Olympia (Contes d’Hoffmann), Amore (Orfeo ed Euridice), First Priestess (Iphigénie en Tauride), Page (Rigoletto), Lace Seller (Death in Venice), and was heard in the Studio Ensemble productions as Iris in Semele and the “deliciously sexy” Papagena in Die Zauberflöte.
Possessing a strong affinity for concert works, Jacqueline has sung Bach’s Saint John Passion, Orff’s Carmina Burana, Fauré and Mozart’s Requiem, Mahler’s Eighth Symphony, Mercure’s Cantate pour une joie, Haydn’s The Creation, Pärt’s Stabat Mater, and Vaughan Williams’ Dona Nobis Pacem.
Jacqueline holds a master’s in opera from McGill University, and upcoming performances include Messiah with Aradia Ensemble and Papagena with Edmonton Opera.
Rose Naggar-Tremblay, Maria Cloephas
Noted for the depth of timbre, the equality of the voice, the mastery of the breath and the emotion of singing (Le Devoir), Rose Naggar-Tremblay began her musical training with the piano and choral singing, then started classical singing at the age of 12. She continued her studies at McGill University where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in vocal interpretation, with a minor in European literature and culture. She has been studying since 2020 under the supervision of Lena Hellström-Färnlöf (director of the Academy of Music and Opera of the University of Mälardalen).
In 2021, she made a remarkable debut at the Sofia Opera in the role of Carmen, and then won the First Prize at the Montreal Symphony Orchestra Competition, the First Prize at the Georges Enesco Paris Competition, the Canadian Young Hope Lyric Scholarship, and the Best Interpretation of a Canadian Work at the OSM Competition with the Healing cycle, which she composed in collaboration with Eric Champagne. In 2022, she was named Revelation Radio-Canada classical music 2022-2023, won the Second Prize of the 2022 European Prize and was awarded the prestigious Fernand Lindsay career scholarship. In 2024 she won the third prize at the Sembrich international competition and the audience award at the Premiere Opera Foundation, both in New York.
James Reese, St-John Evangelist
A "shining tenor" (New York Classical Review), James Reese is a frequently sought tenor soloist with leading orchestras and ensembles throughout North America. James maintains close relationships with Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, the American Bach Soloists, The Sebastians, TENET Vocal Artists, the Washington Bach Consort and the Boston Early Music Festival. In the 2023-24 season, he looks forward to debuts with the Portland Baroque Orchestra, Bach Collegium San Diego, and Symphony Nova Scotia, and to performances across North America, Belgium, Scandinavia, and Germany. In 2023 James won a GRAMMY award as a soloist on Born, released by The Crossing, singing the music of Edie Hill. Praise for James' singing have called his performances "captivating" (The Broad Street Review) and "splendid" (San Francisco Chronicle.)
Jonathan Wood, Lucifer
Jonathan is increasingly in demand as a dynamic conductor, tenor and vocal coach. He has been Musical Director of the Exeter Bach Choir since 2016 and has led the choir to acclaimed performances of all of J S Bach’s major choral works. In 2024, he was appointed Musical Director of Surrey Youth Choir and now leads sessions for Surrey Arts on vocal health best practice and pedagogy for students and teachers. Jonathan regularly works with choirs of all sizes and has worked with Dartington Community Choir, Collegium Singers and the Exmouth Choral Society in recent years.
In 2021/22, he studied on the MA Choral Conducting course at the University of Birmingham achieving a distinction in his final conducting recital. This experience allowed him to work closely with the CBSO Chorus and be mentored by Simon Halsey, Bob Chilcott and Julian Wilkins.
Pacific Baroque Orchestra
The ‘house band’ of Early Music Vancouver, The Pacific Baroque Orchestra (PBO) is recognized as one of Canada’s most exciting and innovative ensembles performing “early music for modern ears.” Formed in 1990, the orchestra quickly established itself as a force in Vancouver’s burgeoning music scene with the ongoing support of Early Music Vancouver. In 2009, PBO welcomed Alexander Weimann as Director. His imaginative programming, creativity and engaging musicianship have carved out a unique and vital place in the cultural landscape of Vancouver.
PBO regularly joins forces with internationally-celebrated Canadian guest artists, providing performance opportunities for Canadian musicians while exposing West Coast audiences to a spectacular variety of talent. The Orchestra has also toured throughout BC, the northern United States, and across Canada. Their 2019 East Coast Canadian tour with Canadian soprano Karina Gauvin culminated in a critically acclaimed album, Nuit Blanches, released by Atma Classique.
Alexander Weimann | Sponsored by Bruce Munro Wright, O.B.C.
The internationally renowned keyboard artist Alexander Weimann has spent his life enveloped by the therapeutic power and beauty of making music. Alex grew up in Munich. At age three he became fascinated by the intense magic of the church organ. He started piano at six, formal organ lessons at 12 and harpsichord at university (along with theatre theory, medieval Latin and jazz piano.) He is in huge demand as a director, soloist and chamber player, traveling the world with leading North American and European ensembles. He is Artistic Director of the Pacific Baroque Orchestra in Vancouver and teaches at the University of British Columbia where he directs the Baroque Orchestra Mentorship Programme.
Alex has appeared on more than 100 recordings, including the Juno-award-winning album “Prima Donna” with Karina Gauvin and Arion Baroque orchestra. His latest album series “The Art of Improvisation” (Volume 1: A Prayer for Peace; Volume 2: Ad libitum; and Volume 3: Canavian Variations, released on Redshift, 2024) unites his passions for both baroque music and improvisation on organ, harpsichord, and piano.
