Meadowside Choral Society is getting ready to perform "Olivet to Calvary" at two venues in the South this year.
On Palm Sunday, 9th April, at 6.30pm the work will be heard in Station Road Methodist Church, Port Erin. On Good Friday, 14th April, at 7.30pm it will be repeated in Arbory Church. Soloists are Olivia Black, Caroline Hawley, Arie Eisinger, Dave Christian and Geoff Corkish MBE. The organ will be played on Palm Sunday by Max Smith and on Good Friday by Gareth Moore. The conductor will be Jonathan King.
“Olivet to Calvary”, subtitled “a sacred cantata recalling some of the incidents in the last days of the Saviour’s life on earth”, has been loved by choirs ever since it was first published in 1904. Shapcott Wensley’s words, as much reflective as narrative, allow composer J H Maunder to explore the extreme emotions of the Easter story, from the irony of Palm Sunday “When o’er the steep of Olivet, the Lord to Salem came”, through the anger of the mob’s cry of “crucify him”, to the tearful contemplation of Calvary where “Mercy’s work is done”.
Meadowside has for many years sung “Olivet to Calvary” every other year, alternating with Stainer’s “Crucifixion”.
Jonathan King said: “Meadowside is pleased to have the opportunity to perform ‘Olivet to Calvary’ in the run-up to Easter once again this year. Having sung Stainer’s ‘Crucifixion’ in 2015, we took the difficult decision last year not to sing ‘Olivet’ but to concentrate instead on our preparations for the Manx Music Festival. This year we have concentrated on ‘Olivet’ and have put the Guild on the back burner... for now.”
As a community choir, Meadowside is open to all. The choir rehearses on Monday evenings from 8pm to 9.15pm in Colby Methodist Hall. Enquiries are welcome at any time and may be addressed to Jonathan King by email at jdc.king@yahoo.co.uk or by phone on 07624 458117.
Photo courtesy of Manx Music Festival.
