Handel's Messiah

Friday November 18 & Saturday November 19, 2011

Performances begin at 7.30pm

MESSIAH TO LAUNCH CHRISTMAS SEASON

St. Matthew’s music director Kirkland Adsett will introduce two outstanding Toronto-based singers at the church’s presentation of Handel’s Messiah that will take place on Friday, Nov. 18, and Saturday, November 19, 2011 at 7:30p.m. When he was the organist and choirmaster at the Church of St. Simon-the-Apostle in Toronto, Mr. Adsett worked with Canadian Opera Company chorus singers Eve Rachel McLeod and Jason Nedecky. They will be among the four featured soloists.

Ms. McLeod, a soprano, has appeared as a soloist with the Bucharest Festival Chamber, the Istanbul Chamber Orchestra, the Toronto Philharmonia, the Calgary Chamber Orchestra, as well as Ottawa’s Opera Lyra. Her opera roles include the Countess in Le Nozze di Figaro, Donna Elvia in Don Giovanni, and the Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute. Other performances include roles in operas by Puccini, Britten and Beckworth.

Described as “one of the fine new voices on the block”, Mr. Nedecky is keenly sought as a soloist in recitals, concerts and operas. The baritone has appeared with the Canadian Opera Company, Opera Atelier, the Toronto Consort, the Toronto Chamber Choir, the Talisker Players as well as the National Arts Centre Orchestra. His musical studies have taken him to England, France and Austria as well as the University of Toronto. Recently, he has been involved in several Baroque recordings.

Countertenor Zachary Windus, who also boasts an extensive Baroque repertoire, is a protégé of internationally acclaimed countertenor Daniel Taylor who began his musical career as a chorister at St. Matthew's. Before moving to Ottawa to pursue a Masters Degree, Mr. Windus held the position of Organist, Music Director and Choirmaster at St. James Anglican Church in Dundas, Ont. He has performed extensively with the Baroque Ensemble Arcady, as well as the Ottawa Bach Choir and the McMaster University Choir, where he studied music and geography. An avid composer, his music has been performed in Canada and Europe, and has placed first in two national competitions.

University of Ottawa student Jean-Philippe Fortier-Lazure, a member of the Opera Lyra Ottawa Chorus, will be the tenor soloist. A native of Kitchener, Ont., he has also sung with several Ottawa choirs, including the Ottawa Choral Society, the Christ Church Men & Boys Choir and the Ottawa Cantata Singers.

A professional orchestra will accompany St. Matthew’s impressive combined choirs, with about 70 singers in the chorus. Ottawa’s Tracy Arnett Realty Ltd., which has sponsored the Messiah for several years, will be the presenting sponsor.

-Margret Nankivell