HILLSBORO, Kan. – Tabor College’s Spring Oratorio will be held May 8 at 7:00 p.m. at the Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church at 300 Prairie Pointe. The annual spring event features a selection of works by Antonio Vivaldi and showcases student, faculty and community performers.
“I chose an all-Vivaldi program for spring because Vivaldi’s music is very bright, full of rhythmic energy, cheerful, and works in such a way that it just draws the listener along with it; it’s springy,” said Music Department chair Dr. Brad Vogel, who will conduct the concert. “I believe the audience will very much enjoy the endless supply of bright melodies, and will also enjoy the outstanding collection of instrumentalists brought to Tabor to join with the student and faculty performers.”
The concert will open with the Concerto for Strings in C Minor, RV 120 for strings and harpsichord, featuring Dr. Sheila Litke, professor of piano at Tabor College.
The program includes Concert in C Major for Violin, Oboe, Organ and Strings. This is an unusual concerto–although not unusual for Vivaldi–in that it features three solo instruments. Wichita Symphony Orchestra violinist and long-time friend of Tabor Adrienne Dougherty, adjunct instructor of oboe Haley Roe and well known organist Christopher Shaw will add their instrumental expertise for the performance.
The concert will conclude with the Dixit Dominus for chorus, soloists, and orchestra. In this work the orchestra is expanded to include not only strings, but two oboes, trumpet, organ and harpsichord. Dixit Dominus is the Latin text of Psalm 110, the familiar psalm that begins with “The LORD said to my lord, sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” It is a psalm of victory, and Vivaldi’s setting of the text is appropriately bright and energetic, and filled with wonderful and rich choral sounds.
Vocal solos will be performed by Nicholas Ediger of Hillsboro, Casey Guthals of Manhattan, Olivia Kliewer of Hillsboro, Rachael Morris of Kansas City, Kan., Krista Neifert of Pratt, Zach Neumann of Osborne, Ruth Springer of Berryton, and professor Dr. Holly Swartzendruber.