Alles was ihr tut - Benefit Concert

Saturday, 10 September 2011 marked the culmination of many hours of rehearsal and preparation, in the form of the benefit concert for Chile post Earthquake 2010. The director of Raggio-di-Sol, the vocal ensemble I've been singing with lately, comes from a German-Chilean family, so this was close to his heart. He went all out and managed to get extra singers to fill out the choir in tutti places; an excellent mini-orchestra of 2 violins, 2 violas, cello, organ and harpsichord, who all played for the benefit; instrument transportation and tuning at reduced rates or free and no rent on the concert space (a church). The church was pretty full. I'd say there were probably 130 - 140 people there. 12 of them were friends/colleagues/pupils of mine. I'm glad that some of my friends finally got to hear me sing solo! The church (Friedenskirche, Hanover, Germany) was an actually lovely little modern church with a wood interior. The acoustic was a bit weird empty, but warm and clear and lovely with an audience. The program: Alessandro Scarlatti - Quadro in A minor for recorder, strings and basso continuo Michael Praetorius - Kyrie à 6 XXII - Gloria à 4 XVII Thomas Tallis - Salvator Mundi Nos. 1 and 2 Claudio Monteverdi - Nisi Dominus Heinrich Schütz - Verleih uns Frieden Michael Praetorius - Kyrie à 6 XVIII Andreas Hammerschmidt - Wie lieblich sind Deine Wohnungen, Herr Zebaoth J. S. Bach - Arie "Wohlzutun und mitzuteilen" for Baritone from Cantata No. 39 G. Ph. Telemann - Sute in A minor for Alto recorder, strings and basso continuo Dietrich Buxtehude - Kantate "Alles was ihr tut" J. S. Bach - Recit. and Duet (Soprano and Baritone) and Chorale from Cantata No. 79 It was a lovely program with a LOT of wonderful rather unknown stuff. But WAY too long. Over 2 hours. But the audience was indulgent and gamely clapped while Alfredo passed out roses to each and every participant. -------