A guide to the soloists for Haydn’s The Creation and Handel’s Messiah

The 2001-2002 season marks Grant Llewellyn's debut as Handel and Haydn Society Music Director. To celebrate this occasion, the Society’s fall season features two oratorios by the composers for whom the Society was named, Haydn's The Creation and Handel's Messiah. These two great works demand a talented roster of soloists and Handel and Haydn is pleased to welcome some of the finest singers from the local, national, and international music scene for these performances. These artists include both returning favorites and singers making their Handel and Haydn debuts. Following are some tidbits and anecdotes to help you learn more about these performers.

Dominique Labelle

Soprano Dominique Labelle returns to the Handel and Hayd stage for performances of Haydn’s The Creation, having performed Handel’s Messiah and Bach’s arrangement of Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater in past seasons. The Newton resident has appeared with many of the finest symphony orchestras, including those of Boston, Baltimore, Cleveland, Houston, Minnesota, Montreal, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Toronto. Her hobbies include playing with her bulldog Obi Wan Kenobi, playing video games, and cooking.

Richard Clement

Tenor Richard Clement studied voice at Georgia State University and the Cincinnati Conservatory. Clement, a Tanglewood Music Center Fellow in 1990 and 1991, has performed with such groups as the Detroit Symphony, Czech Philharmonic, Brooklyn Academy of Music, and Frankfurt Opera. He is fond of skiing and cooking. He also loves to play craps in casinos and recently became interested in yoga.

Neal Davies

Bass Neal Davies makes his Handel and Haydn Society debut in The Creation. He studied at King’s College in London and the Royal Academy of Music. Davies won the Lieder Prize at the 1991 Cardiff Singer of the World Competition and has been a regular guest at the Edinburgh Festival. His past appearances include the Welsh National Opera, Scottish Opera, BBC Symphony, and Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields. He enjoys books, good food and drink, historic houses, and gardens.

Nancy Argenta

Soprano Nancy Argenta makes her Handel and Haydn Society debut in Messiah. With a repertoire spanning three centuries, she has been praised for her performances of Mozart, Mahler, Schubert, and Schoenberg. Ms. Argenta has been hailed as the supreme Handel soprano of our age. Born and raised in Canada, she now lives in England. She has two cats and likes gardening, hiking, and learning to make wooden sculptures.

Brian Asawa

Brian Asawa is considered at the forefront of a new generation of operatic countertenors. He makes his Society debut with these Messiah performances. Mr. Asawa was a 1994 grand prize winner in Placido Domingo’s "Operalia" Competition and was the first countertenor to win the Metropolitan Opera auditions in 1991.

Finnur Bjarnason

Iceland native Finnur Bjarnason makes his Handel and Haydn Society and United States debut in Messiah. The tenor studied singing at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and is currently studying at the National Opera Studio. He has appeared with the Icelandic Opera and Glyndebourne Touring Opera, and has performed at Philharmonic Hall in Liverpool, Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow, and St. David’s Hall in Cardiff. In his spare time, Mr. Bjarnason enjoys rollerblading, swimming, horseback riding, and fishing.

Stephen Powell

Baritone Stephen Powell holds operatic engagements this season with the Portland Opera, New York City Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Edmunton Opera, Arizona Opera, and Opera de Quebec. These Messiah performances mark Mr. Powell’s Handel and Haydn debut. He frequently joins his wife, soprano Barbara Shirvis, in a recital program that they created together called "Hearts Afire," love songs through the ages. Mr. Powell spends his free time with his two sons and his German Shepherd/Labrador Retriever mix Gracie.

Creation/ Messiah: A Historical Perspective

No two works have so thoroughly defined the Handel and Haydn Society throughout its history as Handel's Messiah and Haydn's The Creation. In fact, they quite literally defined the Society as it was these two great oratorios that gave Handel and Haydn its name. The founders of the Society sought to enrich Boston's musical life by presenting sacred oratorio performances, particularly those of the great composers, Handel and Haydn. Of their works, The Creation and Messiah were certainly held in the highest regard. It is no surprise that in the first concert given by the Handel and Haydn Society on Christmas Day in 1815 at King's Chapel in Boston, both works were featured prominently. Selections from The Creation made up the entire first part of the program. Various works from Handel's oratorios made up the final two parts, concluding with a rousing performance of the “Hallelujah Chorus” from Messiah.

It seems that there was actually some controversy at the time over the two works and their comparative merits. To settle this question, the Society embarked on the peculiar arrangement of performing both works together over three days in early April, 1817. At each concert, the society would perform one of the three sections of Messiah as well as the corresponding sections of The Creation. This would offer its members and audience an opportunity to judge between the two masterpieces in a fair and deliberate manner.

Selections from The Creation and Messiah would continue to figure prominently in the early concerts of the Society. On December 25, 1818 the Society would take the next step by performing Messiah complete in one concert. This was closely followed by a complete performance of The Creation on February 16, 1819. More than an important part of the Handel and Haydn Society’s development, these performances marked the American premiere's of each work in its entirety. This, too, would become an Society tradition in the 19th century as the Society would present American premieres of many important works by Handel, Mozart, Bach, Mendelssohn, and Verdi.

Society Musicians Featured on World Premiere Recording

Musicians from the Handel and Haydn Society Orchestra headed out to the west coast in late August to record the world premiere CD of Sir John Tavener's Lamentations and Praises with the acclaimed vocal ensemble Chanticleer. Under the direction of Chanticleer Music Director Joseph Jennings, the combined groups spent 4 days at Skywalker Ranch, a state-of-the-art recording studio located approximately one hour south of San Francisco.

The CD is slated for release prior to the world premiere performance on January 31 at Stanford University's Memorial Church. Handel and Haydn audiences will have the opportunity to hear this work live on March 23 & 25 at Sanders Theatre, co-presented with the FleetBoston Celebrity Series. Lamentations and Praises takes as it text the Orthodox Service for Good Friday and features 12 male voices, a string quintet, flute, trombone, and an evocative collection of percussion instruments.

Annual Meeting: Focus on the Future

The Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors took place just days after the tragic and devastating events of September 11, 2001. Board President Janet Whitla opened the meeting with a moment of silence in memory of Handel and Haydn Society Marketing Committee Member Myra Aronson, who lost her life aboard American Flight 11, and all the victims of the terrorist attacks.

In her comments, Ms. Whitla remarked on the transcendent and healing powers of music. She acknowledged our shared commitment to "bringing the wonder of voice and instrument to our audiences as our contribution to what is most inspiring, most hopeful and bright, in our lives," and urged every member of the Handel and Haydn Society family to "turn our attention to music and to the future we will create as a community."

Executive Director Mary Deissler gave an update on the Society’s Vision Campaign, beginning with the Vision Statement: By 2005 the Handel and Haydn Society will be recognized as a world leader in Historically Informed Performance, presenting Baroque and classical music performed by the foremost period instrument orchestra and chorus, and leading the industry with innovative concert programming and community and educational outreach.

The Society has successfully completed Phase I of the Vision Campaign, raising some $2 million to support a variety of Artistic Excellence initiatives. These included, first and foremost, the hiring of Music Director Grant Llewellyn, whose technical proficiency, artistic vision, and commitment to spending a significant part of the year in Boston, will have a direct and positive impact on the Society’s pursuit of artistic excellence.

Phase II of the Vision Campaign will focus on marketing, audience development, and the use of recording and the Internet. The Society will make a significant investment in its Internet presence and will review plans for recording and touring under Grant Llewellyn’s leadership.

Male Ensemble Added to Vocal Apprentice Program

A Male Ensemble for changing voices has been added to the roster of choral ensembles, which includes the Handel and Haydn Society Singers, Youth Chorus, Treble Ensemble, and High School Soloists. VAP will serve 157 students from 43 communities this year, an increase of 117 students over last year.

Society Funds Composer-in-Residence at Brockton High School

Thanks to the Handel and Haydn Society, composer Beth Denisch will work in-residence at Brockton High School with its chorus this winter. She will create a choral piece with orchestra to premiere on February 13 at the school. The North Quincy High School chorus will also take part in the performance, under the direction of Society Associate Conductor John Finney.

Handel and Haydn Forms Partnership with Boston Latin School

The Handel and Haydn Society has established a new partnership with the Boston Latin School (BLS) this fall. Vocal Apprenticeship Program chorus rehearsals and theory classes are held on Saturdays at the School’s newly renovated, state-of-the art music facilities. BLS students also receive in-school visits by Society musicians, sing in a February 14 youth concert with the Society Orchestra, and receive VAP tuition waivers. Handel and Haydn thanks the Boston Conservatory and its President Richard Ortner and for their support in helping VAP to expand during 1999-2001.

VAP Students Honored

Following rigorous auditions, four Youth Chorus members (Natalie Eccleston, Lucas Griswold, Justine Long, and Michael Maloney) were selected to perform as part of the 2002 Eastern Division American Choral Directors Association Children’s Honor Choir in Pittsburgh next February.

Christine Duncan of Pepperell was awarded the first Vocal Apprentice Award to a graduating senior. After seven years in VAP, Ms. Duncan will attend Connecticut College as a voice major this fall.

VAP alumni Sarah Matteucci (Barnard College) and Elaine Allard (Swarthmore College) received the Barbara E. Maze Award for Musical Excellence.

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