THE YOUNG ONES
Three young soloists in the Gisborne Choral Society and Gisborne Civic Orchestra’s upcoming performance of Baroque composer George Handel’s oratorio, the Messiah, talk to Mark Peters about their experience of taking on big parts in a work that has been described as “a monument of western civilisation”.
Tirzah RussellHaving handled the biggest choral event of her life when she sang in the Gisborne Choral Society production of The Armed Man last year, Gisborne Girls’ High student Tirzah Russell has now taken on another big challenge.
She will sing a solo part in 18th century German-born composer George Handel’s epic choral work, the Messiah.
Tirzah has previously sung solo parts in musicals but she was nervous at first about taking on a solo role in the Messiah.
“In singing alone I got a bit of stage fright. But it’s different when you hear the choir and orchestra. You know they are there to support you.
“I feel absolutely fine with it now.”
The high school student is tutored by musical director Gavin Maclean.
“He said he would like to have some younger voices in the concert to contrast with the more mature voices,” says Tirzah.
To be accompanied by an orchestra in The Armed Man was amazing, says Tirzah. She particularly enjoyed the sound of the trumpet so she looks forward to hearing guest trumpeter Patrick Macaskill-Webb perform in the Sunday concert.
“I’m quite a happy person,” says Tirzah. “So having the trumpet tweeting away brings another level of cheerfulness to the music. It’s a really emotional instrument.”
Although she has always liked singing, Tirzah also enjoys drama.
“The Messiah is operatic in a way. I find it very dramatic. You have an uplifting song of praise and suddenly it goes into a song where everything is falling.”
Kristian MisaOriginally from the Philippines, Gisborne has been singer Kristian Misa’s home for the past year. In that time he has performed in two Gisborne Choral Society concerts and now has solo parts in the Messiah.
“I’ve been in a choir since third grade. I’m a tenor one – the highest tenor vocal in the tenor range. I have previously sung tenor in the first part of the Messiah four years ago in the Philippines.
Classical music is strong in the Philippines, he says.
“Every Christmas in Manila churches there perform the Messiah and other Classical songs.
“This is my first time performing a solo classical part. It’s exciting and quite scary as well. I love how Handel plays with running notes.”
Running notes are notes that go up or down right after each other.
“When you sing solo parts it’s quite a challenge to deliver those running notes. You have to discipline yourself on how you breathe and when to breathe and manage your air through the aria.”
The soloist also needs to internalise the lyrics to be true to the text, he says.
“Handel intelligently arranged the music and the emotions that underline the music. You feel that when you sing it.
“In the process of learning the music I research the text and I listen to a lot of recordings so it becomes more familiar to me.”
Jessica BurkeWith GCS productions such as Handel’s Samson, Gilbert and Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance and Carols in the Vines behind her, year 11 Iona College student Jessica Burke is comfortable with her solo part in the Messiah.
“I started singing lessons with Gavin when I was seven. I’ve performed in bands, choirs and I’m used to solo singing.”
Jessica has one solo piece to perform in the Messiah, but it’s not hard to pick up, she says.
Handel’s Messiah is an English-language oratorio but the work’s scriptural text was compiled by Charles Jennens from the King James Bible, and from the version of the Psalms included with the Book of Common Prayer.
The language is unusual, says Jessica but she is used to singing in languages such as French, German, Italian and Latin.
“I do heaps of drama in old English. I played Lady Macbeth in a Macbeth piece at school and I performed in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet at Gisborne Intermediate.”
While Jessica enjoys her solos, a particular highlight from the Messiah is the Hallelujah Chorus.
Legend has it that King George II was so moved by the Hallelujah Chorus he stood up. Naturally his subjects followed suit. It is now traditional for the audience to stand during the famous chorus.
Some doubt exists over the accuracy of this story. Another story is that the king nodded off during a performance but was so roused by the Hallelujah Chorus he leapt to his feet.
The Gisborne Choral Society and Gisborne Civic Orchestra perform Handel’s Messiah at St Andrew’s Church, Cobden St, 2pm, Sunday. Adults $20, students $5.