brian bartoldus

Brian BartoldusConductor and Artistic Director

February 27, 20217:30 pmOnline

Brian BartoldusConductor and Artistic Director

February 27, 20217:30 pm

Online

Handel Choir thanks Preston and Nancy Athey for their sustaining support. Our 2020-2021 season is supported in part by grants from the organizations below,

the Harry L. Gladding Foundation, Inc., and Dr. Frank C. Marino Foundation.

Mark McGrath is proud to sponsor The Handel Choir of Baltimore.

Mark McGrath CRPC®, AIF Financial Advisor Vice President 410.308.6137

303 International Circle, Ste 490 Hunt Valley, MD 21030 [email protected] ameripriseadvisors.com/mark.mcgrath

Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC. Member FINRA and SIPC. © 2020 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved. (11/20)

2

Welcome!The Tradition Continues!

Like all of you, Handel Choir has been spending the past year in a constant state of reinvention. What does it mean to be a community choir during a year of social distancing? Thanks to the wonders of technology and the generosity of countless volunteers, we are finding new and innovative ways to share our music with the people of Baltimore—and beyond.

Handel Choir was proud to continue our nearly century-long annual Messiah, adapted for our unique times. Our four soloists joined a quintet of period instrumentalists to perform arias live as our choristers lifted their voices from the safety of their homes.

Handel Choir continues to actively promote the artistic health and growth of the community by presenting a special concert season inviting the public to virtual discussions of choral masterworks with renowned conductors, sing-alongs and sight-singing sessions. Since we are all still under coronavirus restrictions, our concerts this season are all online. Please save April 24, 2021 for our live online concert, Baroque Extravaganza!

For a Baroque Extravaganza! we are honored to partner with Baroque specialists Third Practice in a full exploration of this era’s pleasures, from tunefulness of Monteverdi through the mighty grandeur of Handel.

It is an honor to share our music with you, our beloved audience, and we now cherish that privilege more than ever. In thanks to you, our wider Handel Choir family, all of this season’s concerts will be free to watch online on our webpage at handelchoir.org/concerts. Handel Choir is proud to continue our tradition of excellence in music!

Brian BartoldusArtistic Director and Conductor

3

4

C.E.A. ScholteS & ASSociAteSCertified Public Accountants

Christopher E.A. Scholtes, CPA

[email protected] 410.323.0010

Accounting & Auditing Services

Servicing small/middle market businesses, nonprofit organizations and high tech emerging companies.

Congratulations to Handel Choir on an outstanding performance!

Associate Conductor and Accompanist Thomas Hetrick has been keyboard specialist for Handel Choir of Baltimore since 1987, accompanying choral rehearsals and solo coachings, as well as playing continuo organ and harpsichord in performances. He earned a Master of Music degree from the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore in 1977 and has since distinguished himself in the Washington-Baltimore region as an organist, harpsichordist, pianist, conductor and vocal coach. He accompanies and coaches singers in opera and oratorio repertoire throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Mr. Hetrick currently is organist and choirmaster at St. John’s in the Village Church in Baltimore.

ARTISTIC LEADERSHIP

Brian Bartoldus is the Artistic Director of Handel Choir of Baltimore, a critically acclaimed choral ensemble famed for its yearly performance of Handel’s Messiah with period instrument orchestra. Brian earned his DMA in choral conducting from the Yale School of Music, studying with Marguerite Brooks, Jeffrey Douma, and Simon Carrington. He studied composition, organ, and conducting at Shenandoah University, where his primary teachers included William Averitt, Steven Cooksey, and Robert Shafer. Brian has been a featured soloist with the Frederick Symphony Orchestra and the Mount St. Mary’s Camerata. Brian serves as the Music Director and Organist of Frederick Presbyterian Church, and is the Artistic Director Emeritus of the professional vocal ensemble Third Practice.

5

HANDEL CHOIR OF BALTIMORE

Handel Choir of Baltimore is a critically acclaimed auditioned choral ensemble that presents yearly performances of Handel’s Messiah with period instrument orchestra, as well as other major choral and choral-orchestral works. Founded in 1935, the ensemble brings together excellent singers and players from across the Mid-Atlantic to perform repertoire ranging from early music to contemporary commissioned works.

Handel Choir continues to actively promote the artistic health and growth of the community by presenting a special concert season inviting the public to virtual discussions of choral masterworks with renowned conductors, sing-alongs and sight-singing sessions. Since we are all still under coronavirus restrictions, our concerts this season are all online. Please save April 24, 2021 for our live online concert, Baroque Extravaganza!

For more information about the Choir and the 2020-2021 concert season and beyond, go to www.handelchoir.org or call the office at 667-206-4120.

6

HANDEL CHOIR OF BALTIMORE

7

HANDEL CHOIR ENSEMBLE

OboeKatherine Needleman

PercussionMichelle Humphreys

SopranoNatalie Beglau-PueyoFaith BoruckeEleanor BrasfieldJulia CummiskyAlena Davidoff-GoreJulie DepnerTheresa DionElena GiannellaHeather HostetlerNatalie HungAnna NycumTessie Prakas Sue PumplinLaToya Roker*

Cailin SmithAbigail Sneider

AltoVirginia AreyLaurie Bacon*†

Shira Jamie CatelinetMary McDaniel Chapman

Peggy DawsonHanna FritzLeslie Greenwald†

Stephanie InglisCindy Levering†

Linda MoxleyMaria QuinteroAmy Sheridan†**

Trina Torkildsen

TenorJoshua BornfieldRobert BurgardJoel GoldmanDavid Hamburger†

Jeffrey HochstetlerPatrick KlinkKenneth KnightCatherine La CostaJohn La CostaLeroy Ludwick‡†

Ben Skerritt-Davis*

Luke Williams

BassLot AgyemangIan ArthurForrest BurrisDavid FrieswykHenry Gibbons*

Tod MyersMark OldenburgDavid PumplinJason Rudy†

John T.K. ScherchChristopher SchroederChris Wilhelm

†Board Member‡Ensemble Manager*Section Leader**Librarian

8

Children’s Chorus of Maryland

Choral Performance & Music Education

◆ Play-Based Learning

◆ 10 Levels of Education

◆ National & International

Performance Opportunities

◆ Online Classes Available

◆ Highly Trained Teachers

◆ Learn to Read & Write Music

Nurturing

Voices, Hearts

& Minds

Since 1976

www.ccmsings.org ◆ 410-494-1480

Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols

Contact our office to schedule a live or virtual auditionWE'RE MEETING IN-PERSON AND ONLINE!

Follow us on Facebook andcheck our website for up to

date performanceinformation!

Save the Date!

Handel Choir of Baltimore’s86th Season

Comfort Across ContinentsSaturday, February 27, 2021, 7:30 p.m.

Online

Shana Oshiro, sopranoAllan Palacios Chan, tenor

Katherine Needleman, oboeMichelle Humphreys, percussion

Brian Bartoldus, conductor

Handel Choir thanks Preston and Nancy Athey for their sustaining support. Our 2020-2021 season is supported in part by grants from the organizations

below, the Harry L. Gladding Foundation, Inc., and Dr. Frank C. Marino Foundation.

Audio or video recordings are prohibited.

9

10

PROGRAM

Priidite, poklonimsia from All-Night Vigil Sergei RachmaninoffJohn Scherch & Joshua Bornfield, intonation

Bogoroditse Devo from All-Night Vigil Sergei Rachmaninoff

Mary Had a Baby trad., arr. Jacqueline B. Hairston

Tota pulchra es Saunder ChoiKatherine Needleman, oboe

Ave Maria/Tanti Anni Primi (Ave Maria) Astor PiazzollaKatherine Needleman, oboe and piano

Blagosloven Yesi, Gospodi from All-Night Vigil Sergei Rachmaninoff

Nyathi Onyuol Enrico OweggiMichelle Humphreys, percussion

Nyne Otpushschayeshi from All-Night Vigil Sergei RachmaninoffAllan Palacios Chan, tenor

Maria, Mater gratiae from Maria, Alleluia! Chihara HidekiMichelle Humphreys, percussion

Svete Tikhiy from All-Night Vigil Sergei RachmaninoffAllan Palacios Chan, tenor

Dominus Vobiscum Sydney GuillaumeSandy Gibbons, baritone

Handel Choir of Baltimore singers, staff, trustees and volunteers thank all our patrons, supporters and friends

for your continued support throughout our season!

11

TEXT AND TRANSLATION

Priidite, poklonimsia Tsarevi nashemu Bogu.Priidite, poklonimsia i pripademHristu Tsarevi nashemu Bogu.Priidite, poklonimsia u pripadem samomu Hristu Tsarevi i Bogu nashemu.Priidite, poklonimsia i pripadem Yemu.

Come, let us worship God, our King.Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and our God.Come, let us worship and fall down before the very Christ, our King and our God.Come, let us worship and fall down before Him.

Priidite, poklonimsia from All-Night Vigil by Sergei Rachmaninoff

Bogoroditse Devo, raduysia,Blagodatnaya Mariye, Ghospod s Toboyu.Blagoslovenna Ti v zhenah,i blagosloven Plod chreva Tvoyego,yako Spasa rodila yesi dush nashih.

Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos, Mary full of grace, the Lord is with Thee. Blessed art Thou among women, and blessed is the Fruit of Thy womb, for Thou hast borne the Savior of our souls.

Bogoroditse Devo from All-Night Vigil by Sergei Rachmaninoff

Mary had a baby. Mary had a baby, My Lord;Oh Mary had a baby, Mary had a baby, Mary had a baby, My Lord.

Where was He born? O, my Lord.Where was He born? O, my Lord.Oh Mary had a baby, born in a manger;Mary had a baby, My Lord.

Oh, Mary called him Jesus, He was called King Jesus.Mary had a baby, Mary had a baby, Mary had a baby, My Lord!

Mary Had a Baby - trad., arr. Jacqueline B. Hairston

You are all beautiful, oh Mary,and the original spot of sin is not in you.You are the glory of Jerusalem and the joy of Israel,You give honor to our people,You are an advocate of sinners.O Mary, O Mother Mary,Virgin most intelligent, Mother most merciful,Pray for us, plead for us to the Lord Jesus Christ.You are all beautiful oh Mary.Tota pulchra es Maria [You are all beautiful, Mary]

Tota pulchra es by Saunder Choi

12


Blagosloven Yesi, Gospodi from All-Night Vigil by Sergei Rachmaninoff

Blagosloven yesi, Ghospodi,nauchi mia opravdaniyem Tvoim.

Angelskiy sobor udivisia,Zria Tebe v mertvih vmenivshasia,smertnuyu zhe, Spase, krepost razorivsha,i s Soboyu Adama vozdvigsha,i ot ada fsia svobozhdsha.

Blagosloven yesi, Ghospodinauchi mia opravdaniyem Tvoim.

“Pochto miras milostivnimi slezami,o uchenitsi, rastvoriayete?”Blistayaysia vo grobe Angel,mironositsam veshchashe:“Vidite vi grob, i urazumeyte:Spas bo voskrese ot groba.”


Zelo rano mironositsi techahu

ko grobu Tvoyemu ridayushchiya,no predsta k nim Angel, i reche:“Ridaniya vremia presta, ne plachite,voskreseniye zhe apostolom rtsite.”


Mironositsi zheni s miri prishedshiya ko grobu Tvoyemu, spase, ridahu.Angel zhe k nim reche, glagolia:“Chto s mertvimi zhivago pomishliayete? Yako Bog bo voskrese ot groba!”

Slava Ottsu, i sinu,i Sviatomu Duhu.

Blessed art Thou, O Lord,teach my Thy statutes.

The angelic host was filled with awe, when it saw Thee among the dead. By destroying the power of death, O Savior, Thou didst raise Adam,and save all men from hell!

Blessed art Thou, O Lord,teach me Thy statutes. “Why do you mingle myrrhwith your tears of compassion, O ye women disciples?” Cried the radiant angel in the tombto the myrrhbearers. “Behold the tomb and understand: the Savior is risen from the dead!”

Blessed art Thou, O Lord,teach me Thy statutes.

Very early in the morning the myrrhbearers ranwith sorrow to Thy tomb, but an Angel came to them and said:“The time for sorrow has come to an end! Do not weep, but announce the resurrection to the apostles!”

Blessed art Thou, O Lord,teach me Thy statutes.

The myrrhbearers were sorrowful as they neared Thy tomb, but the Angel said to them: “Why do you number the living among the dead?Since He is God, He is risen from the tomb!”

Glory to the Father and to the Sonand to the Holy Spirit.

13

Poklonimsia Ottsu, i Yego Sinovi,i Sviatomu Duhu,Sviatey Troitse vo yedinom sushchestve s Serafimi zovushche:“Sviat, Sviat, Sviat, yesi Ghospodi!”I nine, i prisno, i vo veki vekov. Amin.

Zhiznodavtsa rozhdshi,greha, Devo, Adama izbavila yesi.Radost zhe Yeve v pechali mesto podala yesi;padshiya zhe ot zhizni, k sey napravi,iz Tebe voplotiviysia Bog i chelovek.

Alliluiya, alliluiya, alliluiya, slava tebe, Bozhe!



We worship the Father and His Son and the Holy Spirit: the Holy Trinity, one in essence! We cry with the Seraphim: “Holy, Holy, Holy art Thou, O Lord!” Both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Since Thou didst give birth to the Giver of Life,O Virgin, Thou didst deliver Adam from his sin! Thou gavest joy to Eve instead of sadness! The God-man who was born of Theehas restored to life those who had fallen from it!

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! Glory to Thee, O God!



Isaya ne okoro k’owacho niya“Kuomwa nyathi onyuol.”Nyathi ma wuoyi, no luonge Hono,Jabura, Nyasaye ma Jateko, Wuonwa, Emmanuel.

Chieng’o nogopiny neolil piny neo kuwe,Sulwe ne rieny, Nyathi n’onyuol.Kanyna n’oting’o Maria, yawa,kodhiyoe piny mar Daudi kwargi

kanyna n’oting’o Maria yawaMaria ne pek Yesu JawarKar nindo n’otamo Maria yudoBethlehem ne opon’g ting ma pekJosef chwore n’o manyo ot tone ot otamo

Bethlehem ne opon’gMaria ne pek Yesu JawarKuom hawi Josef n’onyis kund dhokGotieno nogo muoch neokayo Mariapiny neolil piny neo kuwe,Sulwe ne rieny, Nyathi n’onyuol,E Bethlehem e kund dhok.

This is the prophecy of Isaiah.“For unto us, a child is born.’’A boy child. His name is wonderful counselor, The mighty God, Father, Emmanuel.

On that dayThe night was silent and dark,The stars were shinning, the child was born.A donkey carried Mary, Alas!On their way to David’s city, for they are of David’s lineage,

The donkey carried Mary, Alas!Mary was expectant with Jesus savior.There was no place for Mary in the inn.Bethlehem was crowded (A heavy burden).Joseph her husband searched for an inn unsuccessfully.

Bethlehem was crowded.Mary was expectant with Jesus the savior.By luck, Joseph was shown a cattle stable.On that night, Mary was in labor pains.The night was silent and dark,The stars were shinning, the child was born.In Bethlehem in a cattle stable.

Nyathi Onyuol by Enrico Oweggi

14


Nine otpushchayeshi raba Tvoyego, Vladiko,po glagolu Tvoyemu s mirom,yako videsta ochi moi spaseniye Tvoye,yezhe yesi ugotoval pred litsem vseh liudey,svet vo otkroveniye yazikov,i slavu liudey Tvoih Izrailia.

Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servantdepart in peace, according to Thy word, for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people-

a light to enlighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel.

Nyne Otpushschayeshi from All-Night Vigil by Sergei Rachmaninoff

Maria, Mater gratiae,Dulcis Parens clementine,Tu nos ab hoste protegeEt mortis hora suscipe.

O Jesu tibi sit gloria,Qui natus es de Virgine,Cum Patre et almo Spiritu,In sempiterna saecula.

Mary, mother of grace,Sweet merciful parent,You protect us from the enemyAnd receive us at the hour of our death.

O Jesus, to you,Who are born of the Virgin,Be with the Father and the nourishing spiritFor endless centuries

Maria, Mater gratiae from Maria, Alleluia! by Chihara Hideki

Svete tikhiy sviatiya sIav Bessmertnago,

Ottsa Nebesnago, Sviatago, Blazhennago,Iisuse Hiriste.Prishedshe na zapad solntsa,videvshe svet vecherniy,poyem Ottsa, Sina i Sviatago Duha, Boga.Dostoin yesi vo fsia vremena pet biti glasi prepodobnimi,Sine Bozhiy, zhivot dayay,temzhe mir Tia slavit.

Gladsome Light of the holy glory of the Immortal One—

the Heavenly Father, holy and blessed—O Jesus Christ!Now that we have come to the setting of the sunand behold the light of the evening. we praise the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: God. Thou art worthy at every moment to be praised in hymns by reverent voices. O Son of God, Thou art the Giver of Life; therefore all the world glorifies Thee.

Svete Tikhiy from All-Night Vigil by Sergei Rachmaninoff

15


Dominus Vobiscum.

Gran Met-la avek nou,Li la nan mitan nou,Li la nan fon ke nou,Amen, Amen, Aleluya.

Depi nan tan benmboNap mache, nap cheche, nap mande:Ki le, ki tan, ki jou,Limie-a va leve pou vin delivre nou?Limie lape-a,Limie la verite-a,Limie la joua-a,Limie lespwa-a,Limie lanmou-a,Limie la vi-a.

Jodia an nou chante:“Dominus vobiscum.”

Gran Met-la avek nou,Li la nan mitan nou,Li la nan fon ke nou,Amen, Amen, Aleluya.

Mache, cheche, mande:Li la nan mitan nou;Mache, cheche, mande:Li la nan fon ke nou.

Amen, Amen, Aleluya.

The Lord be with you.

The Lord is with us,He is among us,He is in the depths of our hearts,Amen, Amen, Alleluia.

Since the beginning of timeWe have been searching, seeking, asking:When will the light come,at last, to deliver us?The light of peace,The light of truth,The light of joy,The light of hope,The light of love,The light of life.

Today, let us all sing:“The Lord is with us.”

The Lord is with us,He is among us,He is in the depths of our hearts,Amen, Amen, Alleluia.

Search, seek, ask:He is among us;Search, seek, ask:He is in the depths of our hearts.

Amen, Amen, Alleluia.

Dominus Vobiscum by Sydney Guillaume

16

PROGRAM NOTES

Handel Choir’s Rachmaninoff All-Night Vigil in March 2020 was one of the final choral concerts before our pandemic lockdown. One year later, I find myself meditating on the privilege of performing this beloved masterwork, and have chosen selections to form the backbone of tonight’s concert. Themes of resurrection, veneration of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and thanksgiving for the daylight interweave between its various prayers, binding together its fifteen movements into one cogent whole. Rachmaninoff quotes or draws inspiration from Greek, Znammeny (Russian), and Kievan (Ukranian) chants, showing the broad reach of his Orthodox faith. Our new selections seek to complement some of these themes, expanding our scope as we celebrate classical music from around the globe.

We begin our program with the opening of the All-Night Vigil, a sonorous invocation to worship, Priidite, poklonimsia. Its sumptuous divisis and symphonic choral writing set the tone for the remainder of Rachmaninoff’s settings, such as the Bogoroditse Devo. The chorus begins in an unassuming manner, with simple harmonies and a reserved and repetitive melody. As the prayer reveals the impetus for such blessings upon Mary, the birth of the “Savior of our souls,” the chorus fans out into a thrilling romantic texture before subtly retreating to the humble grace of its opening bars.

The biblical Mary has inspired centuries of artists from around the globe. In music, as in other mediums, she is often a symbol of the idealized feminine, most commonly in her role as mother. The African American spiritual Mary Had a Baby centralizes this message; similar to the Rachmaninoff, it reaches its fullest musical moment at mention of the kingship of her child, Jesus. Jacqueline Hairston has arranged and composed works for such celebrated musicians as the London Symphony, Denyce Graves, and Kathleen Battle, for whom tonight’s artful arrangement was written.

Los Angeles-based Filipino composer Saunder Choi drew inspiration for his Tota Pulchra Es from Maurice Duruflé’s motet of the same title. The women of the Handel Choir sing an English translation of this Latin prayer, as the oboist soars above with a singing melody derived from the ancient Gregorian chant. Argentinian composer Ástor Piazzolla flips the script on Mary’s motherhood and virginity in Tanti Anni Primi (Ave Maria) from

17

PROGRAM NOTES

his tango opera, María de Buenos Aires. This melody is the primary theme for María, the tragic protagonist who suffers life as a sex worker, death, and consignment to a miserable afterlife that is a surreal reflection of her earthly agonies. Parallels with the biblical Mary appear throughout, though often as parody: both have an important role in events far larger than themselves, though unlike Mary, María’s seemingly greater agency is an illusion, leading her to ruin at the hands of a callous society.

Mary’s biblical role is not constrained to her motherhood. In the Gospel of John, she is one of the women who first learns of Jesus’s resurrection, serving as an ‘apostle to the Apostles’. This angelic vision is the subject of Blagosloven Yesi, Gospodi, which contrasts the story’s drama against the patter of its titular refrain. The piece concludes with a crescendo of prayers rising up in ecstatic celebration.

Nyathi Onyuol returns to the Christmas scene, opening with a scriptural quote familiar to any Handel Choir fan: “For unto us a child is born.” Oweggi’s hymn-like textures show the influence of Methodist missionaries active among the Luo peoples in Kenya and Tanzania. The core of the work is a Dholuo poem telling of Mary’s arrival in Bethlehem, accompanied by layered percussion lines. While many European carols paint the picture of a painless nativity, Nyathi Onyuol admits to the harsh realities of childbirth in a foreign city, while still celebrating the meager comforts of the manger and the silence of Bethlehem’s starry night. Rachmaninoff presents another scene of comfort in Nyne Otpushschayeshi, a piece so beloved by the composer that he requested it sung at his own funeral. The use of tenor soloist, though brief, is thoroughly effective, cutting its way through the gently swaying choral harmonies.

As with Choi and Rachmaninoff, ancient Christian chants serve an important inspiration for the choral works of Chihara Hideki. Maria, Mater gratiae begins with a direct Gregorian quotation that is swiftly interrupted by forceful timpani strokes. The traditional Japanese dance rhythms of the Bon odori provide the accompaniment to the men’s confident declamations of praise. Such cultural fusion is common in Hideki’s music, which displays a strong knowledge of both Western and Japanese musical traditions.

Shana Oshiro is an alumna of Morgan State University with a BFA in Vocal Performance and is a former Miss Maryland. She has appeared with Opera Philadelphia in productions of Porgy and Bess and Margaret Garner, made several appearances with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra as a featured ensemble member, as well as appeared with multiple local orchestras and chorales in the DC Metropolitan area.

Shana is a board-certified music therapist currently pursuing her Masters in Music Therapy at Shenandoah Conservatory. She has continued her performance career combining her interest in community music therapy to address racism in the US with her barbershop quartet, HALO, and their collective community music therapy initiative. Their program, Race and #RealTalk, guides people through the listening and singing experience of Barbershop music to help engage each other in difficult conversations about our country’s complex race relations issues.

GUEST ARTISTS

PROGRAM NOTES

Our closing works shift focus from Mary to light. Rachmaninoff’s approach to the oft-set Orthodox prayer Svete Tikhiy makes use of lush sonorities that slowly unfold into a rich hymn of joy for the close of day. Though the opening of Guillaume’s Dominus vobiscum conjures liturgical images, the Haitian Creole lyrics penned by the composer’s father urge listeners to discover the divine within “the depths of our hearts.” Sopranos and altos trade melodies in their eternal search for the light of deliverance. Underneath, the men accompany with insistent rhythms, increasing the sense of urgency. Suddenly, the tenors respond with an invitation for all to sing the titular blessing. As the soloist, altos, and sopranos join in turn, they elegantly weave their interlocking rhythms in festive celebration.

Program Notes by Brian Bartoldus

18

Dubbed a “standout” performer by Seen and Heard International, “bringing musicality plus an attractive and flexible leggiero sound to his assignment,” Philippine-born American tenor Allan Palacios Chan has earned a reputation for performing a wide range of repertoire with absolute commitment to communication and artistry.

A few past performances include: William Shakespeare in the world premiere of Phillip

Hagemann’s The Dark Lady of the Sonnets; Nanki-poo, Gilbert and Sullivan’s Mikado, Washington Savoyards; Damon, Handel’s Acis and Galatea, Cincinnati Chamber Opera; Mortgage Broker, The Bubble, NanoWorks Opera; Acis, Handel’s Acis and Galatea, New Dominion Chorale; Lurcanio, Handel’s Ariodante, Cincinnati Chamber Opera. Allan also maintains an active concert schedule. He recently sang the tenor solo in Handel’s Messiah with The Reston Chorale, and also recently debuted with the Handel Choir of Baltimore as their tenor soloist in Rachmaninoff’s All-Night Vigil. Before lockdown cancellations, he would have made his professional debut with the IN Series of Washington D.C. this past May, in the role of The Duke of Mantua in Verdi’s opera Rigoletto. He will make his debut with the IN Series in their 2021 opening production.

Allan holds a Bachelors of Arts in Music with a Minor in Theater (magna cum laude) from George Mason University School of Music and a Masters in Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. He has been a Corbett Foundation Young Artist with Cincinnati Opera for four consecutive seasons and was a voice fellow at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, California for two consecutive seasons where he sang in the West Coast premiere of Matthew Aucoin’s opera Second Nature. He will be singing the role of Tamino in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte as a scholarship fellow at the Berlin Opera Academy in Berlin Germany Summer of 2021.

GUEST ARTISTS

19

20

GUEST ARTISTS

Katherine Needleman joined the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra as principal oboist in 2003, the same year she won first prize at the International Double Reed Society’s Gillet-Fox Competition. As soloist, she has appeared with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Albany Symphony, the Concerto Soloists Chamber Orchestra, the Haddonfield Symphony, the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, and the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Colombia, in addition to her

frequent appearances with the Baltimore Symphony. She has performed as guest principal oboist with the New York Philharmonic, the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, and the symphony orchestras of Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, New Zealand, and San Diego.

Ms. Needleman’s chamber music engagements have taken her to Carnegie Hall, Weill Recital Hall, and the Metropolitan Museum in New York; Jordan Hall and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, as well as the Freer Gallery in Washington D.C. She has appeared at the Verbier Festival in Switzerland, Italy’s Spoleto Festival, the Alpenglow Festival, the Newport Music Festival, and throughout Greenland. A participant at the Marlboro Music Festival, she has also appeared on two tours with “Musicians from Marlboro.”

Devoted to the music of our time, Ms. Needleman has premiered numerous works and has commissioned works by Luis Prado, Chia-Yu Hsu and David Ludwig. She gave the American premiere of Brenno Blauth’s Concertino and the West Coast premiere of Christopher Rouse’s Oboe Concerto at the Cabrillo Festival with Marin Alsop conducting. She gave the premiere of Kevin Puts’ oboe concerto, Moonlight, at the Baltimore Symphony’s New Music Festival with Marin Alsop in June, 2018.

In 2019-2020, Ms. Needleman continues to present a recital for oboe and piano with pianist Hanchien Lee of music by women composers. The program has been performed in Baltimore, Philadelphia, Tampa, New York City, Washington, DC, Oberlin, Pittsburgh, and Kansas City. She is concurrently presenting a recital of music for oboe alone in Baltimore,

21

Northfield MN, Washington DC, Minneapolis, Iowa City, Madison WI, Eau Claire WI, and Greensboro VT. An upcoming recital project involves suppressed music of “degenerate” composers. Ms. Needleman co-founded and curates Coffee, Patisserie, and Classical Music, a morning classical music series at An Die Musik, one of Baltimore’s most intimate venues. Her Lockdown Oboe Solo Concerts during COVID-19 quarantine are covering Telemann’s Twelve Fantasias and a broad survey of repertoire for oboe solo from the past 100 years.

A Baltimore native, Ms. Needleman attended high school at the Baltimore School for the Arts but left early to attend the Curtis Institute of Music, where she was a student of Richard Woodhams. She served on the faculty at the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University from 2005-2020, and is currently on faculty at the Young Artist Summer Program at Curtis SummerFest.

Singled out as “musically outstanding and visually delightful” (Cleveland Plain Dealer), and for her ability to make “the intent of the music come to life” (Broadway World), percussionist and timpanist Michelle Humphreys performs music of the Baroque and modern eras, with frequent forays into music that falls between. She is passionate about seeking connections between different types of music and musicians, and performs and records with Opera Lafayette, Tempesta di Mare, Washington

Bach Consort, National Cathedral Baroque Orchestra, Boston Early Music Festival, Three Notch’d Road and Floyds Row.

Michelle can be heard on seven opera recordings with Opera Lafayette (Naxos), and on the Tempesta di Mare recordings Comédie et Tragédie, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, and the 2019 release Telemann–The Concerti-En-Suite (Chandos).

A dedicated educator, Michelle teaches percussion at Towson University and serves on the artist faculty of National Music Festival.

GUEST ARTISTS

22

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Mark McGrath PresidentJason Rudy* Vice PresidentLeslie Greenwald* TreasurerLeroy Ludwick* SecretaryLaurie Bacon*

Brian Bartoldus ex officio Cynthia Bell ex officio David Hamburger*

Marta Harting Cindy Levering*

Amy Sheridan*

Melinda O’Neal Artistic Director & Conductor Emerita

Ellery B. Woodworth emeritus

*Choir member

STAFF

Brian Bartoldus Artistic Director & ConductorThomas Hetrick Associate Conductor & AccompanistCynthia Bell Managing DirectorLeroy Ludwick Choir ManagerCaroline Mapp BookkeeperKenneth Knight, Cindy Levering, Linda Talley, Judith Clague and Senior Box Office Volunteers

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Cindy Levering, Scott Nunn and Linda Talley box office & logisticsLeroy Ludwick choir hospitalityBonnie Hamalainen and Kenneth Knight graphic designJoan Copeland/Gamine Graphics graphic designJonathan Palevsky and Aaron Ziegel pre-concert lecturersSwanson Graphics printingEric Echols and Ismar Gomes recording engineersAdam Pearl and Paula Maust continuo organFrederick Presbyterian Church and Grace United Methodist Church venue

23

DONORS

Handel Choir of Baltimore gratefully acknowledges the following donorsfor their generous support. This list is as complete as possible and representscumulative giving for the period July 1, 2019 to December 3, 2020. Pleaselet us know of errors or omissions.

MAESTRO’S CIRCLE*Season Underwriters ($5,000 and up)Preston and Nancy AtheyBruce and Leslie GreenwaldCindy Levering

Co-Season Underwriters ($2,500-$4,999)Mark McGrathRobert E. Prince

Concert Sponsors ($1,500-$2,499)Brian and Santana BartoldusCharles and Candy BartoldusAlfred J. DeRenzis, DMDDavid and Anne HamburgerMarta HartingLeroy LudwickCarole Lynne PriceCheryl Tillman* Thru December 31, 2019

SILVER CIRCLE ($25,000 and above)Preston and Nancy Athey

HANDEL SOCIETY ($10,000-$24,999)William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial FundBruce and Leslie Greenwald Cindy Levering in memory of Len LeveringMaryland State Arts Council

BENEFACTOR ($5,000-$9,999)Robert Prince

SPONSOR ($1,000-$4,999)AnonymousBaltimore Community FoundationBaltimore County Commission

on Arts and SciencesBaltimore Office of Promotion and The Arts

Brian Bartoldus in honor of the Handel Choir Board of Trustees

Charles and Candy BartoldusAlfred J. DeRenzis, DMDThe Harry L. Gladding FoundationDavid and Anne HamburgerMarta HartingLynn and Terral JordanJohn and Catherine La CostaPeter LeffmanLeroy LudwickMark McGrathGeorge and Fran OswinkleCarole Lynne Price

in honor of Caroline E. Price and in memory of Joseph B. Price, Jr.

Robert PrinceJason Rudy and Scott TiemannCheryl Tillman in honor of Cindy LeveringVenable Foundation

PATRON ($500 to $999)AnonymousKim Golden

in honor of Leslie and Bruce GreenwaldAmy SheridanSusan Shuey

in memory of Henry M. Shuey, Jr. MDWilliam Sweet Linda and Peter TalleyKristen Fernandez Wilhelm

CONTRIBUTOR (up to $499)Ronald and Baiba AbramsLea AdamitzMaria AndrzejewskiAnonymousJames AnthonyWalter Anthony

24

Virginia E. AreyIan ArthurSarah and Bruce ArthurLibrada Azocar-GuerraPhoebe Bacon Phoebe Follmer Bacon

in honor of Laurie BaconLaurie BaconGary and Bonnie Ballard

in memory of Jim TaylorMetta and Roger BarbourJim BarryMiles Baxter in honor of Len LeveringLewis BeckerCynthia Bell

Gill BentleyThomas BlairWilliam P. and Jean Shaffer BlairCatherine BlakeBrenda BodianJohn BolandJoshua BornfieldFaith BoruckeArielle Brackett and Rutuij PandyaDavid BrockLinda BromfieldForrest and Rebecca BurrisShira Jamie CatelinetAnthony Blake ClarkVictoria M. Commins

Handel Choir of Baltimore is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization. Gifts are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Please consult your financial advisor. A copy of our financial statement is available upon request by contacting Handel Choir of Baltimore, 10 Gerard Avenue #204, Lutherville-Timomium, MD 21093 or by calling 667.206.4120. Documents and information submitted to the State of Maryland under the Maryland Charitable Solicitations Act are available from the Office of the Maryland Secretary of State for the cost of copying and postage.

25

Rosemary Connolly in honor of Leslie Greenwald

William CopperKathryn Crecelius and Andrew CainMary Ruzicka Crook, E.D.

in honor of Tod MyersJaye CrooksAlena Davidoff-GoreDonald DavisPeggy DawsonTheresa DionJim and Margaret DonGinny EasterEugene EdgettGlenn EricksonMark and Beth FelderGladys Fernandez in memory of John DueRebecca FerrellRev. Stephen M. Fields, S.J.Suzy and Bill Filbert

in honor of Leslie GreenwaldAndrew FrancisRebecca FrasureClaire and Howard FreelandFrederick FreyDavid FrieswykElena GiannellaMatthew GiannellaHenry S. GibbonsArthur Dan Gleckler

in honor of Leroy LudwickMarcia GlecklerJennings GlennRobert GoodellSteven Gore in honor of Alena Davidoff-GoreJames Grabowski

in memory of Garnet GrabowskiBrigitte Greenwald

in honor of Bruce and Leslie GreenwaldBronwen HallBonnie HamalainenR. Dwayne HarrisonJanet HerbertNancy HolderHeather HostetlerFaye Houston in honor of Leslie Greenwald

and Cindy LeveringMary Ellen E. and Donald B. HoytAllison Hurd

Lorrie and Mike JakubikGeorge Johnston and Eric PriceJacque JohnstonMichael and Susan JohnstonCheryl L. KauffmanMary KeatingE. Robert KentBettye KingLaura Kinzel in honor of all of your artists,

including my son, John TK ScherchJohn and Debra Klink in honor of

Patrick Klink and familyPatricia KnollBenjamin Knop in honor of Maria LeveroCatherine KochJim KucherLeonard KulackiCatherine La Costa in honor of Tom HetrickMary and Ronald LeachMichael and Anne LeeBarbara and William LeveringAaron LevinHenry and Leigh LoweCris Imle and Colin MacKenzie

in honor of Leslie and Bruce GreenwaldAlan MackseyTonya ManningNicholas MantelDr. Frank C. Marino FoundationThomas George MarsdenJames MartinSam and Joan McCreadyJohn Shepherd McDaniel, IIISteven and Mary McKayKaren McNally, RSMPatricia and Raymond MessickShauna Kreidler MichelChristina MoscatiLinda E. MoxleyChristianne Myers in honor of Tod Myers!Tod Myers and Lois SchenckDeborah Bacon NelsonBill Nesbitt in honor of Mark McGrathTed NiedermanElizabeth NussAnna NycumMary Nycum in honor of Anna NycumMelinda O’NealMark Oldenburg in honor of Amy Sheridan

26

Randy OntiverosLisa and Jonthan Orens

in honor of Drs. Leslie and Bruce GreenwaldMary Beth Orrson

in honor of Leslie GreenwaldYvonne Ottaviano

in honor of Leslie GreenwaldJack Parrack in honor of Cindy LeveringWallace and Hannah Pickworth

in honor of Cindy LeveringAntoinette PigeonLeon PodlesElena PopowitchPeggy PorterRoland Price Paula PufferMari QuintChris Raborn in honor of Cindy Levering’s

new grandchildDonald Regier in memory of Catherine RegierNancy ReigleDavid RichAnthony Rivera

in honor of my Friends of Handel ChoirSara Roa in honor of Cindy LeveringLaToya RokerGlenn and Patricia RudyHeather SabatinoJoan SalimAna M. and Robert D. Scarborough

in honor of all our past family members!Alex and Patricia ShortMatthew ShudtzJanet Simons

Donna Sinquefield in honor of Leroy LudwickDoris Sivak

in honor of my daughter and the whole choir and in memory of my husband, Jerry

Beth and Kevin SmithsonRay and Mary SullyJames TaneyhillBonnie TaylorDonna TaylorMeredith TaylorSuzanna ThieblotTabitha Timity in memory of

Rev. Dr. Roland and Mrs. Helen TimityTom ToaleLinda Turbyville Christopher Vale in memory of Sharon E. ValeMary Ellen VanniIrma and Mack WalkerJohn and Susan WarshawskyCarl WatersGray WatkinsVeda WildPenny WilliamsonAnne C.A. and Michael WilsonRaymond S. Wise

and Helen Catherine Mollar in memory of Helen C. Wise

Deborah Schultz Woods and Gus LewisEda WoodwardDaryl YoderAnne ZellPam and George Zerba

in honor of Cindy LeveringEvelyn Zink

IRA Charitable Rollover

As you consider making a donation to Handel Choir, bear mind that the IRA charitable rollover rules allow taxpayers who are age 70½ or older to donate through a direct transfer to a not-for-profit organization, such as Handel Choir of Baltimore. This is called a qualified charitable distribution (QCD). Since the QCD will count towards your minimum required distribution, if any, it could reduce your income and taxes even if you take the standard deduction. While you won’t receive an income tax deduction for a QCD, it also won’t be included in your taxable income for the year. Note this only applies to IRAs and not to other retirement accounts.

This does not constitute tax advice—you should consult your tax and/or financial advisor to determine how this applies to your personal situation.

27

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

We are delighted that you are joining us today as The Handel Choir of Baltimore performs in its 86th season. You’ve occasionally heard the phrase “a Season Unlike Any Other?” Well, this time, we aren’t kidding!

Our last concert with a live audience was on March 7th at the Baltimore Basilica, for a concert featuring Rachmaninoff’s a cappella masterwork, All-Night Vigil. Several days later, the onset of COVID-19 cases erupting in the state forced a shutdown of performances, gatherings, commerce and life as we knew it.

Who could have imagined that singing in a room with 40-50 others could be as dangerous as nearly any other activity? Or that Zoom meetings would be the way to go to school, conduct business or attend rehearsal?

Because of amazing strides in technology, we’ve found new ways to stay connected and new ways to experience performances. Not ideal, perhaps, but necessary.

This year’s Messiah was both virtual and live, as Maestro Bartoldus—by now an expert on a certain computer program—envisioned a way to capture recorded performances from our choristers and integrate with live soloists and period instrumentalists.

Our Comfort Across Continents on February 27th and Baroque Extravaganza! on April 24th will build on the knowledge acquired from the Messiah performance (and Free Fall Baltimore in October) and we hope you can watch from a convenient device at home. We want to keep you—and our singers—safe as this pandemic runs its course.

We are committed to present these concerts free of charge, and this is possible due to the hard work of our wonderful Board of Trustees and the gifts from our beloved patrons. The Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC) and other invaluable organizations—some of whom may be found elsewhere in this program—have been incredibly helpful in a year without ticket sales.

You may easily make a tax-deductible gift on the support us page of our website, handelchoir.org, and don’t forget to “Like” and share our Handel Choir posts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. We are looking forward to seeing you, once again, IN PERSON during our 2021-2022 Season!

Mark D. McGrathPresident, Board of Trustees

Venable proudly supports theHandel Choir of Baltimore,and we offer our best wishes for a successful 2020–2021 season.

CA | DC | DE | IL | MD | NY | VA

Marta D. Harting, Esq.

750 E. Pratt Street, Suite 900, Baltimore, MD | Attorney advertising.

Celebrating Those Who Bring Harmony to Our Communities