Three celebrations are on the program for the Greater South Jersey Chorus this spring concert season. Besides singing the great Brahms Deutsch Requiem in a rarely performed English translation, the chorus will honor Artistic Director Dean Rishel’s retirement and also herald the arrival of a new director, Jason Bishop, director of Choral and Vocal Studies at Drew University.
Last year, Rishel announced his retirement and expressed his wish to conduct the Brahms as his parting gift to singers and audiences. The Requiem was precedent-setting for its time since it was not founded on the traditional Catholic Mass for the dead. Brahms intended the work to be a comfort to the living.
“We were fortunate to discover this English translation, the only one that does not distort Brahms’ word setting and rhythms,” Rishel said. “In our research we also found that the tempi Brahms preferred for the Requiem were probably somewhat faster than more ‘traditional’ approaches. At this concert, we will present the piece as we believe Brahms may have intended.”
The director also expressed pleasure at featuring two well-known soloists who are favorites of the chorus. “Kelly-Ann Bixby’s radiant soprano graced our holiday concert in 2011, “ Rishel said. “John-Andrew Fernandez brought his bass/baritone and machismo to our performances of Carmina Burana in 2009. At this, my final concert, I’m so pleased to be working with such fine artists once again.”
A local performance of the Requiem is scheduled for May 4 at 3:30 p.m. at the Universalist Unitarian Church in Cherry Hill.
Tickets for the concert are $20 and are available on the website, www.greatersjchorus.org, or from any chorus member.
