Stabat Mater by Pergolesi at the Loyola Chapel of Concordia University

Montreal 16 April 2011.

A successful concert was organised by the Loyola Chapel Community in the profits of Zerf social and humanitarian projects. http://zerfchallenge2020.com/

The program started with J.S. Bach’s Praeludium XXIII (part from the first book of Well-Tempered Clavier) played by Joel Thiffault at the piano instead of an organ.

The Crucifixion was performed a capella by magnificent mezzo-soprano Johan Patry. Joel Thiffault supposed to accompany her at the piano but surprisely didn’t appear.

After sort welcomes of Wilhelmina Fredericks, (director of Zerf productions) where she spoke about the activities of the organization, started the second part of the program.

The Stabat Mater by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi, is one of the loved and performed sacred music of the classical repertory. Stabat Mater is a 13th-century Roman Catholic hymn to Mary. It is a very melodic work and touching especially the second part of the mezzo, (Fac, ut portem Christi mortem - Let me, to my latest breath).

Mezzo-soprano Johanne Patry has the most velvet voice I ever hear in Canada. The timbre is rich with contralto like tones.

Baritone John Giffen is a young artist with worm voice and accurate line.

Soprano Danielle Pullen sang well but has to fix the vibrato, mostly at the middle of her voice. Tenor Anthony Iannacone needs to develope the technique of his voice.

The artists were accompanied at the piano by Joel Thiffault.

(Pictures: opera composer Panayoti Karousos with mezzo-soprano Johanne Patry, and Johanne Patry performs the Stabat Mater of Pergolesi)