CARMEL, N.Y—The Putnam Chorale will perform Antonín Dvořák’s "Stabat Mater" oratorio at two concerts in late April: at St. Kateri Tekakwitha Church in Lagrangeville on April 25 and at St. James the Apostle Church in Carmel Hamlet on April 26.
Maestro Jason C. Tramm will conduct the epic masterwork, featuring the Chorale’s 70-member choir, four renowned vocal soloists, and a professional orchestra.
Premiered in Prague in 1880, the "Stabat Mater" played a crucial role in Dvořák’s international breakthrough as a composer. It is a choral composition depicting the Virgin Mary’s grief over the death of her son, Jesus. Based on a 13th-century Latin poem by Franciscan friars, the work is known for its emotional depth and symphonic structure. The music is sorrowful and moving yet offers a vision of heavenly paradise. Dvořák, a man of deep faith, found inspiration and consolation in this text after the deaths of his two young children.
“Dvořák’s 'Stabat Mater' is one of the towering monuments of choral masterworks,” Tramm said. “The composer focuses on two personal aspects of the poem’s emotional world: grief and solace. Dvořák’s profoundly moving setting of this ancient text channels the depths of human sorrow and reminds us of music’s ability to transform suffering and offer comfort to the soul.”
The performance will feature four soloists who have achieved distinguished professional careers:
Tenor Jeffrey Hartman's operatic repertoire is extensive and diverse. His portrayals of iconic roles include Cavaradossi in "Tosca," Calaf in "Turandot," Bacchus in "Ariadne auf Naxos" and Hoffmann in "Les Contes d’Hoffmann." He has performed with esteemed companies such as Lyric Opera of Chicago, Seattle Opera, Palm Beach Opera, and Theater Chemnitz.
Bass-baritone Mark Uhlemann has performed as a soloist with the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera, Seattle Opera and festivals including Tanglewood, Ravinia, Aspen, Manchester and Chelsea Music Festivals. His career has taken him internationally to France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Poland and Albania.
Soprano Monica Rose Ziglar, known for “possessing a gift of transcending angelic high notes,” according to the Tucson Citizen Press, hails from Tucson, Arizona, where she studied music at the University of Arizona. She developed her love for art song and sacred oratorio under soprano Elizabeth Mosher. Ziglar performed throughout the Southwestern U.S. and Sonora, Mexico, including at the Alfonso Ortiz Tirado Music Festival in Álamos, Sonora. In 1993, she attended the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia.
A rising dramatic mezzo-soprano, Laura Zahn has been praised for her “warm, voluptuous voice” and “captivating, powerful delivery.” In the 2023-24 season, Zahn performed dramatic roles including Santuzza in "Cavalleria Rusticana," Zita in "Gianni Schicchi," and mezzo-soprano solos in Verdi’s "Requiem." She made her international debut in Hong Kong performing highlights from "Carmen." This season, Zahn will return as the mezzo-soprano soloist in Verdi’s "Requiem," cover Dalila in "Samson et Dalila" with St. Pete Opera, perform "Carmen" highlights with New West Symphony and participate in Teatro Regio di Parma’s inaugural Verdi program and showcase in New York City.
The Putnam Chorale, a community chorus founded in 1984, is known for its wide-ranging repertoire from baroque to classical, contemporary and pop. Over recent years, the chorus has grown to 70 singers, mostly amateur, from Putnam, Dutchess, Westchester and Connecticut.
"Stabat Mater" performances will be:
Advance tickets for adults, seniors, and students are available at putnamchorale.org/next-event or at the door. Children 12 and under attend free.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here