REVIEW: Stars &
Stripes Forever, July 2013
The Orange County Choral Society under the artistic
direction of Christopher Gravis delivered a fitting tribute to our Nation this
past July 3. The fine ensemble maintained their blended, uniform sound
throughout a program that included everything from traditional folk tunes and
patriotic songs to a lovely Aaron Copland selection excerpted from Copland’s
opera The Tender Land.
The program of Americana featuring 35 of the approximately
65 voices that comprise the main ensemble and a band of 15 exceptional
instrumentalists opened with “The National Anthem,” followed by the John Philip
Sousa march, “The Washington Post,” to which audience members waved American
flags that had been provided by greeters. The Choral Society then sang a
spirited rendering of “Hark, I Hear the Harps Eternal” with a well-handled
polyphony and an intelligibility that is often lacking in performances of this
work by other groups. The excellent soloists complementing the work were Andrea
Zomorodian and Scott Ziemann.
I couldn’t help but thoroughly enjoy “How Can I Keep From
Singing?” This was an absolutely luscious presentation of the Robert Lowry
composition. The song was clearly and deftly sung from the heart.
I had been looking forward to the work from The Tender Land titled “The Promise of
Living.” For my taste the instrumentalists overbalanced the voices, though both
ensembles put out a surprising amount of sound and the overall effect was quite
pleasing.
Next we heard a warm, nuanced rendering of “Shenandoah” and
a multi-genre arrangement of “When the Saints Go Marching In.” A showy opening
for the latter selection transitioned to Dixieland, to the blues and to a
stately “rise of the moon,” culminating in a rousing finish and audience
participation.
Intonation and rhythmic accuracy are two strengths of this
solid ensemble, as is their well-tempered vowel uniformity. Dotted rhythms in
both “The National Anthem” and “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” were precisely
executed.
After intermission, “The Liberty Bell” by Sousa brought
everyone back to their seats for more flag waving. Proud veterans stood as the
ensemble sang military anthems during “The Armed Forces Salute.” The concert
was rounded off with Irving Berlin’s “Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor,” featuring
the words of the Emma Lazarus sonnet also placed at the Statue of Liberty, and “God
Bless America” with a sweetly sung introduction by Soprano Soloist, Hannah Arevalo.
Flags at the ready, the audience waved out the celebration
in grand old style as the instrumentalists performed “The Stars and Stripes
Forever.” An encore of “America the Beautiful” followed.
The bright and open St. Wilfrid of York Episcopal Church in
Huntington Beach hosted the event which was also underwritten by The St.
Wilfrid of York Music Guild.
For information about Orange County Choral Society and
upcoming concerts, visit www.occhoralsociety.org
Artistic Director Christopher Gravis with Orange Coast
Choral Society members
