Bourbon Baroque John Austin Clark & Nicolas Fortin, Artistic Directors

presents

Georg Frideric HÄNDEL

Messiah HWV 56

with support from

The Owsley Brown II Family Foundation &

Nov. 26 & 27, 2016 St. Brigid Catholic Church

1520 Hepburn Avenue Louisville Kentucky 40204

In Memoriam

Nicolas Fortin 1980-2016

Ernie Adams 1959-2016

Messiah, HWV 56 Georg Frideric Händel (1685-1759)

Part One

Isaiah's prophecy of salvation

Sinfony Comfort ye my people (Spears) Ev'ry valley shall be exalted (Spears) And the glory of the Lord (chorus)

The coming judgment

Thus saith the Lord of hosts (Rittenhouse) But who may abide the day of His coming (Bier) And he shall purify the sons of Levi (chorus)

The prophecy of Christ's birth

Behold, a virgin shall conceive (Rader) O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion (Rader and chorus) For behold, darkness shall cover the earth (Ferrill) The people that walked in darkness (Rittenhouse) For unto us a child is born (chorus)

The annunciation to the shepherds

Pifa There were shepherds abiding in the fields (Mayhew) And lo, the angel of the Lord (Mayhew) And the angel said unto them (Mayhew) And suddenly there was with the angel (Mayhew) Glory to God in the highest (chorus)

Christ's healing and redemption

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion (Wright) Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened (Rader) He shall feed his flock like a shepherd (Rader and Mayhew) His yoke is easy (chorus)

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Part Two

Christ’s Passion

Behold the Lamb of God (chorus) He was despised and rejected of men (Adams) Surely he hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrow (chorus) And with his stripes we are healed (chorus) All we like sheep have gone astray (chorus) All they that see him laugh him to scorn (Morris) He trusted in God that he would deliver him (chorus)

Christ’s Death and Resurrection

He was cut off (Romney) But thou didst not leave his soul in hell (Romney)

Christ's Ascension

Lift up your heads, O ye gates (chorus)

Christ's reception in Heaven

Unto which of the angels (Romney) Let all the angels of God worship Him (chorus)

The beginnings of Gospel preaching

Thou art gone up on high (Ferrill) The Lord gave the word (chorus) How beautiful are the feet (Black)

The world’s rejection of the Gospel

Why do the nations so furiously rage together (Rittenhouse) Let us break their bonds asunder (chorus) He that dwelleth in heaven (Spears)

God’s ultimate victory

Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron (Spears) Hallelujah (chorus)

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Robert E. Kulp, Jr., president Austyn Hill, secretary

Michael G. Swansburg, Jr., treasurer John H. Clark IV Benjamin J. Evans

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Bourbon Baroque John Austin Clark & Nicolas Fortin

Artistic Directors

Violin Janelle Davis

Alice Culin-Ellison Evan Few

Martie Perry Kathie Raymond

Ana Sarbu

Viola Rachel Gries Michael Hill

Meghan Casper

Cello Erica Rubis Lara Turner

Violone Phil Spray

Bass Dara Bloom

Trumpet Kris Kwapis

Sean Burdette

Timpani Aaron Hanka

Oboe Sung Lee

Sarah Huebsch

Bassoon Kelsey Schilling

Theorbo/Lutes David Walker

Harpsichord John Austin Clark

Soprano Emily Yocum Black Marie-France Duclos

Elizabeth Mayhew Mary Catherine Wright

Alto Audrey Belle Adams

Robin Bier Andrew Rader

Tenor Zackery Morris Justin Romney

Steven Paul Spears

Bass Kyle Ferrill

Jim Rittenhouse Chad Sloan

Part Three

The promise of eternal life

I know that my Redeemer liveth (Peer) Since by man came death (chorus)

The Day of Judgment

Behold, I tell you a mystery (Sloan) The trumpet shall sound (Sloan)

The final conquest of sin

Then shall be brought to pass (Bier) O death, where is thy sting (Morris and Bier) But thanks be to God (chorus) If God be for us, who can be against us (Black)

The acclamation of the Messiah

Worthy is the Lamb (chorus) Amen (chorus)

Lighting Design Theresa Bagan

Biographies Soprano Emily Yocum Black is completing her Masters of Music in Vocal Performance at the University of Louisville with plans to graduate May 2017. Emily is the Apprentice Studio Artist at Kentucky Opera and is performing in the chorus for the 2016-2017 season as well as working with their outreach and education program. Last year, she served as the School of Music Graduate Teaching Assistant in Voice where she maintained a full voice studio and taught courses in voice to non-majors. Recently, Emily won First Prize in the University of Louisville Aria Competition and will perform with the University Orchestra in the spring. She was also the 2016 Grand Prize winner of the Kentucky Bach Choir Audrey Rooney Vocal Competition and will perform as a soloist with the Kentucky Bach Choir this season. Last year, Emily had the pleasure of performing as a soloist in Bernstein’s Mass with the Louisville Orchestra. Emily has been very active in the U of L Opera Theatre program performing the roles of Pamina in The Magic Flute (2016), Laetitia in The Old Maid and the Thief (2015) and Silverpeal in The Impresario (2015). She is also a three-year member of the Louisville Chamber Choir.

Soprano Marie-France Duclos has built a vast repertoire of solo performances including sacred music and opera. She was recently featured as Despina in Cosi fan tutte with UK Opera Theatre. She also sang the role of Belinda in Bourbon Baroque’s 2015 production of Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas as well as in their 2015 Händel’s Messiah. She was the soprano soloist in Bach’s Saint-John’s Passion with the Kentucky Bach choir last March. She is the first prize winner of the Audrey Rooney Kentucky Bach Choir Competition 2014. She sang in J.S. Bach’s Motets in a concert broadcasted by the public radio CBC. She also toured as Gretel in Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel presented by JMC. She performed in roles as Musetta, Cendrillon, and Monica. Marie-France earned a Master’s degree in Voice Performance from the University of Montreal. She is now working towards her DMA in Voice Performance at the University of Kentucky under the guidance of Dr. Noemi Lugo. Marie-France will be presenting two recitals of Chamber music at the University of Kentucky. The first one on January 17th 2016 and the second one at the beginning of May.

Elizabeth Mayhew, Elizabeth Mayhew is a second-year master’s student studying Vocal Performance at The University of Kentucky. She received her undergraduate degree in vocal performance from Wingate University in North Carolina '15. Elizabeth has been fortunate to perform with the Wingate University Opera program in their productions of Cenerentola (Tisbe), Pirates of Penzance (Edith and Mabel), Regrets Only (Emma Lou), and The Tenderland (Laurie) all under the direction of Dr. Jessie Wright Martin. She was the soprano soloist for a number of choral works with the Wingate University Choir, including Handel’s Messiah and Bach’s B-minor Mass, Magnificat and the Oster-Oratorium. At the University of Kentucky, Elizabeth was most recently seen as Evelyn Nesbit in UK Opera Theatre’s Ragtime, and she is currently preparing for UK Opera Theatre’s 2017 Spring production of Il Barbiere di Siviglia. Elizabeth studies with Dr. Elizabeth P. Arnold.

Kyle Ferrill, baritone, has appeared with some of the nation’s finest orchestras, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Pops, and New York’s Orchestra of St. Luke’s. Conductors include Stefan Asbury, Miguel Harth-Bedoya, Keith Lockhart, Gil Rose, Robert Spano, Kirk Trevor, and John Williams. Recent engagements include the Brahms Requiem and Mendelssohn’s Elijah with St. Olaf College Choir and Orchestra, the Oregon Bach Festival , a commercial recording of Ruth Fazal’s Awakening with the Slovak National Orchestra in Bratislava, Slovakia, and a reprise of a successful Carnegie Hall commission, David Bruce’s Piosenki, in London. In addition to performing, Kyle teaches voice and vocal pedagogy at the University of Memphis. A native of Greenwood, Indiana, he holds a bachelor’s degree from Butler University and a master’s and doctoral degree from Florida State University, and has also studied at Tanglewood, Songfest, Ravinia, and several sessions in the Carnegie Hall Professional Training Workshops. www.kyleferrill.com

Jim Rittenhouse has been critically acclaimed as possessing a “luscious baritone voice,” …“an instrument with agility and a continuum of many shades…” and “a vulnerability few vocalists achieve.” He holds the Performer’s Certificate/Voice and MCM degree in choral conducting from Southern Seminary. His solo performances have included appearances with the Louisville Orchestra and Orchestra KY; Caccini’s La Liberazione di Ruggiero with Ars Femina; the Durufle Requiem, Rutti Requiem, Britten’s Cantata misericordium and War Requiem with Louisville Choral Arts Society; Bach’s Christmas Oratorio with The Blanche Moyse Chorale, Vermont; and Messiah with Bourbon Baroque and Fort Wayne Bach Society. Jim is a member of the Louisville Chamber Choir and sits on their board. With the LCC he has performed with the Louisville Orchestra in Orff ’s Carmina Burana, Bernstein’s Mass, and Messiah. He is Associate Director of Music at St Paul UMC Louisville, and is owner of R2 Impact, a speakers bureau and meetings/events consultancy. He and wife, Janet, reside in Louisville and have two daughters.

Chad Sloan, Chad Sloan, baritone, is a member of the faculty at the University of Louisville. He has sung with Kentucky Opera, Louisville Choral Arts Society, Dayton Opera, Tanglewood Music Center, Anchorage Opera, New York City Opera, Wolf Trap Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Atlanta Ballet, Atlanta Opera, Aspen Opera Theater, and Tacoma Opera. Most recently he was heard in recitals with Ensemble for the Romantic Century, as a soloist in Britten's War Requiem with Lawrence University, as a soloist in The Juilliard School's concert celebrating the life and work of Elliott Carter, Willy in Lee Hoiby's This is the Rill Speaking with Opera Memphis and featured along side eighth blackbird in University of Chicago's CONTEMPO series. Other recent projects include Carmina Burana with Lexington Philharmonic, South Bend Symphony and Flagstaff Symphony, a return to the CONTEMPO series with eight blackbird at University of Chicago, performances of Papageno in Arizona Opera's production of Die Zauberflöte and Mahler's Lieder eines fahrenden gesellen with Orchestra Kentucky. Further engagements include a return to Kentucky Opera in their production of The Mikado.

Zackery Morris, a native of Raleigh NC, is thrilled to be apart of this exciting ensemble! Equally at home on operatic and musical theatre stages with credits including; Marius (Les Miserables), Anthony Hope (Sweeney Todd), as well as the roles of Ferrando (Cosi fan tutte), The Four Servants (Les Contes d’Hoffmann) and Don Basilio (Le Nozze di Figaro). Most recently, Zackery was a young artist with PORTopera in Portland Maine where he performed the role of Tobias in The Medium as well as covered the role of La Remendado in Bizet’s Carmen. Zackery has worked as young artist for The Ohio Light Opera and just last year with the Bayview Music Festival in northern Michigan. On the concert stage, Zackery was a recent winner of the audience choice award with the Audrey Rooney Bach Competition last April, and has sung as soloist for the Kentucky Bach Choir, North Carolina Master Chorale, Carolina Ballet, as well as Angela Rice's 'Thy Will Be Done' . Mr. Morris is a graduate of Wingate University ‘12 in Charlotte N.C., and holds Masters of Music ‘15, and is a current D.M.A. candidate at the University of Kentucky.

Tenor Justin Romney is in his 10th year of teaching choir in public schools; he is currently the head of the choral department at South Oldham High School. He is also in his 11th year as the choir director for the choir of the German-American Club of Louisville. Justin earned his B.M. in Music Education and M.M. in Choral Conducting at the University of Louisville and sang with the prestigious Collegiate Chorale and Cardinal Singers each year there as a student. With his high school ensembles he has traveled to various destinations across the eastern United States and participated in concerts and festivals where his choirs consistently receive top honors. Justin is married to Monica (13 beautiful years!) and has two sons: Eli and Enoch.

Noted for being “most consistently musical, most clear in diction,” possessing a “stunningly beautiful, edgeless tenor” and for “lustrous singing,” tenor Steven Paul Spears has performed with many arts organizations across the United States and Europe. Specializing in works of the Baroque and Contemporary Periods, Steven’s recent repertoire includes of works of Rameau, Cavalli, Monteverdi, Bach and Handel, as well as Britten, Stravinsky, Orff and Ullmann. Of his singing, reviewers have said Steven brought out “one reason why Bach’s vocal melodies have such complex, searching contours; they’re tracing not just musical thoughts, but also the changing weight and implications of the text,” giving a performance “so true to the words” and of a performance of the Roasted Swan in Orff ’s Carmina Burana, one critic wrote that it was “riveting…filled with angst and an overabundance of high notes, Spears dramatized the moment with vocal dexterity and polish.” His first solo album, The Call to Earth, songs of Daniel Gilliam, has just been released in various formats. Receiving the Master’s Degree in Music from the Juilliard School and the Bachelor’s Degree in Music from the University of Louisville, Steven is in his 13th year of teaching at Lawrence Conservatory in Appleton, WI and continues to be a student of Edith Davis Tidwell. For more info, you can go to stevenpaulspears.com.

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Mary Catherine Wright is currently finishing her Bachelors in Vocal Performance and Musical Theatre Certificate at the University of Kentucky studying under Dr. Everett McCorvey. She is a 2015 Metropolitan National Council Audition Mid-South Region Finalist and was the first-place winner of the 2012 Alltech Vocal Scholarship Competition. In November 2014, she was the recipient of the Encouragement Award at the Metropolitan Opera National Council District Auditions. Most recently, Ms. Wright performed Zerlina in Don Giovanni in the Estates Theatre (Prague) in July 2015 and made her professional debut as Nuria in Osvaldo Golijov's Ainadamar in April 2015 with the Lexington Philharmonic, Kentucky Opera, and UK Opera Theatre. Mary Catherine has enjoyed playing roles such as Olympia in the Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Johanna in Sweeney Todd, Carrie in Carousel, and Suor Genovieffa in Puccini's Suor Angelica. Currently, Ms. Wright is singing in the Kentucky Opera chorus for their 2016-2017 season, performing Handel's Messiah this holiday season and traveling to New York to sing with the National Chorale.

Audrey Belle Adams is a sophomore vocal performance major at the University of Kentucky, where she studies under the direction Dr. Angelique Clay. She is the recipient of the Alltech Scholarship and is a proud member of the University of Kentucky Chorale, UK's top performing ensemble. She has performed in Carnegie Hall, ACDA, KMEA, and internationally. Within the University, she has performed Mother in Ragtime, and in the spring will be singing the role of Berta in The Barber of Seville. Audrey is a proud graduate of the Youth Performing Arts School. She would like to thank Austin and Nico, her Mother, family and friends for all of the love and support. This performance is dedicated to her Father, Ernie Adams.

Hailed as “a Ferrier in waiting” (The Rehearsal Studio), Robin Bier has been praised for her “robust, shapely contralto,” (San Francisco Chronicle). Recent solo appearances include Bach Mass in B Minor and the role of Clori in Handel’s Parnasso in Festa at the American Bach Soloists Academy, and she has also appeared as a soloist with the English Symphony Orchestra, the Brook Street Band, the Baroque Collective and Compagnia d’Istrumenti in the UK, and the Bach Festival of Philadelphia, Brandywine Baroque, and the Oberlin Orchestra in the USA. Robin holds a PhD in historical vocal performance practice from the University of York, and she is artistic co-director of solo-voice early music ensemble Les Canards Chantants. She is a current student of Christian Immler, and is based in Philadelphia, PA, where she is a staff singer at St. Clements Church and directs the choristers of Bryn Athyn Cathedral.

Countertenor Andrew Rader has performed on three continents, both as a soloist, and in chamber music. He has sung the title role in Giulio Cesare, Oberon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and he was the cover for the three countertenors in Adams’ The Gospel According to the Other Mary with the LA Philharmonic. In June 2016, he performed Eustazio in Opera Mission’s Rinaldo in New York City. Concert work includes St. John Passion, Messiah, Vivaldi’s Gloria, Chichester Psalms, Handel’s Dixit Dominus, and L’Amfiparnaso, Carmina Burana, Bach Mass in G Minor and numerous cantatas, including BWV 170 upcoming in April. In his performance of Carissimi’s Historia di Job, San Francisco Classical Voice said, “his voice was as strong as his character’s faith.” Competition successes have included Second Prize in the 2015 Nicholas Loren Vocal Competition, Second Prize in the 2015 Handel Aria Competition of the Madison Early Music Festival, Third Prize in the 2011 Gianni Bergamo Classic Music Award, and Third Orpheus National Vocal Competition.