New Music Director Hits a High Note in his Inaugural Season

Grant Llewellyn has taken a commanding start in his first season as Handel and Haydn Society Music Director, drawing critical acclaim from the press and praise from audience members. Llewellyn—who was appointed Music Director at the end of Christopher Hogwood’s 15-year tenure as Artistic Director last season—made his debut October 19 and 21, 2001 conducting Haydn’s The Creation.

Following his first rehearsal of The Creation with the Society Chorus, the group burst into applause and gave Llewellyn a standing ovation. Ensuing reactions from the press have been equally positive.

The Critics Rave

“Starting his first season as Handel and Haydn music director, conductor Grant Llewellyn led a dynamic and colorful performance,” wrote the Boston Herald.

“The charismatic Llewellyn was always a charmer, but who knew that he could blaze with such a dramatic, storytelling temperament?” reported The Boston Globe. “This performance was alive, alert, and happening all the way through.”

The New York Times wrote, “A glimmer of light has come out of Boston, and one of its chief sources is the Handel and Haydn Society… Mr. Llewellyn, with a nice balance of enthusiasm and clearheadedness, used what he had very well.”

Cheers from the Audience

Grant has received complimentary phone calls and letters since the season began. In a letter to The Boston Globe, Maurice Joffe wrote, “On January 20 I was fortunate to be in the audience at the extraordinary Handel and Haydn Society jazz and classical concert.

“It was a memorable and exhilarating afternoon of exquisite music and superb artistry and talent. The audience responded with great adulation and appreciation, and a well-deserved standing ovation.”

Subscriber Judith Kotanchik telephoned the Society to express her enjoyment of the “Jazz/Classical: Improvisations” program as well. Judith is a big classical music fan, but was also pleased with the incorporation of jazz into this concert.

Regarding the “Mozart’s Final Symphonies” program in February, subscriber Bogusia Wojciechowska commented, “Grant has certainly introduced an element of irreverence and spontaneity into the organization!”

Involved Leadership

Grant’s involvement with Handel and Haydn extends throughout the organization. In conjunction with the Educational Outreach Program, he visited the Hernandez School (K-8) in Roxbury for the Handel and Haydn Society Vocal Quartet’s December 3 performance of “Where in the World is Bella Voce?” He and pianist Wayne Marshall went to Madison Park High School in Boston on January 18 where Marshall played for over 350 students as part of a Martin Luther King Day event. In January and February, Llewellyn was part of the panel auditioning candidates for a new Handel and Haydn Society Treble Ensemble Conductor.

In preparation for concerts, Mr. Llewellyn gets together with Society Concertmaster Daniel Stepner on a regular basis to discuss and exchange ideas. He meets with Associate Conductor and Chorusmaster John Finney, who works closely with the chorus and soloists. Grant has also been busy meeting and auditioning singers from the Boston area. In one of these meetings, he was particularly impressed with tenor Jeffrey Thompson and cast the singer in this season’s production of Handel’s Ariodante and next season’s Mass in B Minor by Bach.

Reaching Out

To forge relationships with other institutions in Boston, Mr. Llewellyn met with the heads of the New England Conservatory of Music and the Boston Conservatory. His meeting with Richard Ortner of the Boston Conservatory resulted in the inclusion of dancers from the Conservatory in next season’s “French Baroque Ballet Music” program.

From Symphony Hall to Foxboro Stadium, Grant has been active in the Boston community. In January, he and Handel and Haydn Governor William Achtmeyer attended the exciting playoff game between the New England Patriots and the Oakland Raiders that helped secure a spot for the Patriots at the Super Bowl. An avid soccer player and fan, Grant is now a loyal supporter of the Patriots!

In the same month, Llewellyn conducted a youth concert for the Boston Symphony Orchestra that was broadcast on WCRB radio. And in February, he attended conductor James Levine’s first performance with the BSO since being named its new music director.

Grant will spend a quarter of the year in Boston while fulfilling his Handel and Haydn Society duties. He maintains an apartment in Newton.

Gala Benefit a Big Success

On Saturday, March 9, the Society hosted "A Welsh Welcome: Croeso I Grant Llewellyn!" This year's Gala Benefit & Auction honored Music Director Grant Llewellyn with a festive Welsh celebration. Over 220 guests in formal and Celtic attire (yes, kilts!) gathered at the Four Seasons Hotel in Boston, and enjoyed a silent auction, four-course gourmet dinner, and dancing to Boston's renowned Winiker Orchestra.

Over $125,000 was raised to support the Society's Education Programs and new artistic initiatives. A very special thank you to all who donated items to this year's Auction, especially the following lead donors: Air France, Alitalia, Tzell New England, Virgin Atlantic Airways, United Airlines, U.S. Airways, The Luxury Collection, Hôtel du Lac Carling, Claridge's, Hotel du Palais, Landry & Arcari, and Leonards New England.

We are deeply grateful to the 2002 Gala Committee members who made this spectacular event possible: Co-Chairs Martha Bancroft, Laura Lucke, and Bonnie Wax; Committee Members Kathy Allen, Albert Comeau, Joseph Flynn, Joyce Hanlon, Karen Levy, Elizabeth Riely, and Carol Sacerdote.

Thank You Colonnade Hotel!

The Handel and Haydn Society expresses its gratitude to the Colonnade Hotel for the generous donation of luncheons in its restaurant, Brasserie Jo. These luncheons give members of the Handel and Haydn community a chance to meet and talk with Music Director Grant Llewellyn in an intimate setting. The Colonnade is located at 120 Huntington Avenue in Boston.

Handel and Haydn Welcomes New Treble Ensemble Conductor

Dr. Lisa Graham has been appointed the new Treble Ensemble Conductor for the Society’s Vocal Apprenticeship Program. She replaces Sandra Piques Eddy, who accepted a position with the Metropolitan Opera last November.

Dr. Graham is Director of Choral Programs at Wellesley College. She earned her music degrees at Sonoma State and the University of Southern California. Dr. Graham has taught at Beverly Hills and Marymount High Schools, and directed choirs at USC and California State University Northridge.

Young Voices in the Spotlight

The ensembles of the Vocal Apprenticeship Program present a concert on May 5 at 3 p.m. at Melrose Memorial Hall. Participating groups are the Handel and Haydn Society Youth Chorus, the Male Chorus, the Treble Ensemble, and the Handel and Haydn Society Singers. Matthew L. Garrett and Lisa Graham conduct the ensembles.

On June 8 at 3 p.m., the Society holds its High School Soloists and Awards Ceremony at New England Conservatory’s Brown Hall. Students will sing works for solo voice or small vocal ensemble. Performers in the program receive private voice and piano lessons, music theory instruction, and coaching in ensemble singing. Both events are free of charge. The Handel and Haydn Society is the only choral and period-instrument organization in North America to develop an extensive educational outreach program.

World Premiere, New Recording, Temple of Dendur!

On January 25, members of the Handel and Haydn Society Orchestra and the acclaimed vocal ensemble Chanticleer dazzled audiences assembled at Stanford University’s Memorial Church for the world premiere of Sir John Tavener’s Lamentations and Praises. The Post Newspaper Group raved, saying, "this is an important and impressive new work … the performance was near miraculous." Lamentations and Praises is based on an Orthodox service for Holy Friday, and features the 12 male voices of Chanticleer, string quartet, alto flute, bass trombone, and an evocative collection of percussion instruments. The work received its New York premiere at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Temple of Dendur on March 16. Boston premiere performances take place on March 22 and 24 at Sanders Theatre and are co-presented by the Handel and Haydn Society and the FleetBoston Celebrity Series. Lamentations and Praises was released on the Teldec label in January and may be found in local record stores.

Former Handel and Haydn Artistic Director Honored

Thomas Dunn, Society Artistic Director from 1967 to 1986, was in town Friday, February 8 to receive the Handel and Haydn Society Medal in a ceremony at Symphony Hall. The Medal was established in 1971 to recognize achievement in the art and performance of music. Under Dunn’s guidance, Handel and Haydn became a fully professional organization with a broad and varied repertoire. He redesigned the Society’s programming to include dance and theatre, turning a more traditional choral society into a forward-looking and dynamic organization. Mr. Dunn remains active teaching at Indiana University

Jorge Hernandez Concert Series Reaches New Audiences

The Society presented a series of free concerts at the Jorge Hernandez Cultural Center in the South End on January 27, February 10, and March 10. The series featured Handel and Haydn Society musicians who developed their own programs exploring the glories of Latin American music. Audiences from the Boston area, including members of the Latino community, heard programs that spanned 15th-century Spain to 20th-century Cuba. Vocal and instrumental works, readings from poetry and letters, and a slide show were among the program components.

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