Concert
review: Season celebrated in music, song
By
Thuy Chu
On-line Forty-Niner
Jonathan
Talberg waves his hands wildly in the
air as he conducts the Cal State Long
Beach's University Choir in a rendition
of English composer R. Vaughan Williams's
"Wassail."
As Talberg moves with the music, the choir
sings in perfect harmony to an enraptured
audience.
The
performance was part of the 24th Annual
Winter Festival Concert held at the First
Congregational Church of Long Beach Saturday
and Sunday.
The
church has played host to the concert
since its conception 24 years ago. Talberg,
director of the Chamber Singers and the
University Choir, compliments its "beautiful
acoustics, the gorgeous setting and the
magnificent Moeller organ" as the
perfect venue for the concert. The 68
Rank Moeller Organ was played by Sean
O'Neal.
Talberg
said to expect "an afternoon or evening
of seasonal holiday music beautifully
sung and played by the five resident ensembles
of CSULB."
And
he wasn't kidding. With the elegant setting
of the church and the beautiful voices
of the Chamber Choir, the University Choir,
the Men's Chorus, the Women's Chorus and
the 49'er Chorus, the spirit of the holiday
season was clearly in the air.
In
addition to the five ensembles, the concert
also featured the Pacific Bells and the
Jazz vocal group, Pacific Standard Time.
Watching
Pacific Bells performed was almost like
watching someone struggling to do too
many things all at once. As the members
frantically reach for the correct bell
that would produce the correct note with
arms flailing here and there, one can't
help but be amazed by their speed and
memorization skills.
A
pleasant surprise of the concert was the
holiday sing-a-long. Audience members
were invited to stand up and join the
choirs in singing "Silver Bells"
and "Jingle Bells." This gesture
made the audiences feel more a part of
the celebration, rather than as mere spectators.
Plus, they weren't half-bad.
"The
audiences always enjoy the combined numbers
with 150 singers," Talberg said.
These include Williams' "Fantasia
on Christmas Carols," and G.F. Handel's
"'Hallelujah' from Messiah."
Other performances included songs for
Christmas, Hanukah and Kwanzaa, and the
requisite, "We Wish You a Merry Christmas."
The
final performance was a candlelight recessional
of "Silent Night." Choir members
each held up a candle during the song
and one by one slowly proceeded off the
stage until only one member remained.
He finished the song and blew out the
remaining candle in his hand.
Talberg
hoped the audiences leave the concert
with "a bit of holiday cheer and
a wonderful hour and a half of entertainment"
mission accomplished.
