The Guelph Chamber Choir opens its 2011-12 season with a screening of the classic 1923 film, The Hunchback of Notre Dame starring Lon Chaney, with live music for choir and organ on Oct. 29 at St. George’s Anglican Church at 8 pm.
The merging of film, choral music and improvisation on St. George’s organ – capable of sounds both delicate and thunderous – offers a musical and visual treat of thrills, shock, and delight just before Halloween.
The choir looks forward to collaborating again with guest conductor Robert Cooper, one of Canada’s eminent choral conductors, currently head of the esteemed Orpheus Choir of Toronto, the Opera in Concert Chorus and the newly formed BlackCreek Festival Chorus.
Cooper has selected a mélange of dramatic choral music to portray Quasimodo’s turbulent emotional struggles during the French Revolution in Paris.
Edward Moroney’s sensational improvisations on the organ, sounding at the front and back of the church, will immerse audiences in this tale of tortured love.
Conductor Gerald Neufeld said, “It is exciting to blend choral music with film media to create an entirely new experience. It creates a very powerful emotional impact on the audience through the excitement of live music performed with the movie.”
Film historian Joan Nicks offers an illustrated podium talk, entitled Filmmaking and Hollywood Style in the Jazz Age, immediately before the performance, from 7 to 7:30pm.
Tickets are now available for $25 or four or more for $20 each. Young adults can attend for $10 (those 30 and under) and only $5 with eyeGO.
Tickets are available through choir or board members, or through the River Run Centre by calling 519-763-3000 or online at www.riverrun.ca
For more information, visit www.guelphchamberchoir.ca or call 519-836-5103.
