CSO-Bach Passions

Selections from Bach’s PASSIONS & Benevoli’s MISSA TU ES PETRUS for 16 voices,

**Special edition on baroque instruments**

Cantare Super Orchestram presents selections from Bach’s PASSIONS & Benevoli’s MISSA TU ES PETRUS for 16 voices, conducted by Paula DeWit, on April 4 & 5, 2025

A Dramatic integration of scripture, poetry and Hymns. Bach’s sublime settings create a portrayal of Passion that is both profoundly human and divine.
The St John & St Matthew Passion are two of Bach’s most famous pieces of sacred music telling the Biblical story of Jesus crucifixion.

Join us and experience this contemplative music LIVE in a beautiful setting!

 

Matthäus Passion
1. Coro: Kommt, ihr Töchter, helft mir klagen
2. Recit. Evangalista
3. Choral: Herzliebster Jesu
27. So ist mein Jesus nun gefangen
27b Coro: Sind Blitze, sind Donner
29. Choral: O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde groß
46.Recit
47. Erbarme dich, mein Gott
53. Befiehl du deine Wege
65. Mache dich, mein Herze, rein
67. Coro: Mein Jesu, mein Jesu, gute Nacht
68. Coro: Wir setzen uns mit Tränen nieder

 

Johannes Passion
I. Coro: Herr, unser Herrscher
12a recit. Evangelist: Und Hannas sandte ihn gebunden zu dem Hohenpriester Kaiphas
12b Coro: Bist du nicht seiner Jünger einer
12c recit. Evangelist, Peter, Servant: Er leugnete aber
21b coro: Sei gegrüsset, lieber Jüdenkönig
21d Coro: Kreuzige, kreuzige
21e recit.
21f Coro: Wir haben ein Gesetz
28 Chorale: Er nahm alles wohl
30. Es ist vollbracht!
39.Coro: Ruht wohl, ihr heiligen Gebeine
40. Chorale: Ach Herr, lass dein lieb

Missa Tu Es Petrus, Benevoli

Kyrie
Sanctus
Benedictus
Agnus Dei

Belle Voci

Baroque Oboe

Traverso
Mikyla Jensen
Emily Richardson

Baroque Bassoon
Allan Thorpe

Harpsichord
Connor Page

Lute
Konstantin Bozhinov

Violin
Chloe Meyers
Jiten Beairsto
Majke Demcak
Catie Akune
Viola
Joshua Gomberoff
Angela Malmberg
Cello
Shin Jung Nam

Bass
Michael Vaughan

Soprano
Sonja Strimbei
Sylwia Karwowska
Marianne Laxton
Veronica Roentetz

Alto
Dinah Ayre
Iuliia Nikolaeva
Sheila Wright
Erik Kallo
Diane Vandr Gucht

Tenor
Rick Ruta
Mark De Silva
Fr. Matt Koovisk

Bass
Jim Banman
Alex Gowans
Richard Williams
Henry Waldock

So ist mein Jesus nun gefangen, Duet

Sonja Strimbei, Soprano
An enthusiastic singer since childhood, Sonja started with voice lessons and choir in elementary school. She went on to sing with her high school choir, and also joined the choir at a private girls’ school in Tokyo, Japan, where she studied on exchange. Sonja continued to pursue voice, piano and theory lessons with music teachers all over the Lower Mainland. She graduated from UBC in 2010 with a BA (Hons.) in German and English Language.

Since moving to the Fraser Valley, Sonja has sung with Evensong Chamber Singers for several seasons. While enrolled at the Chilliwack Academy of Music, she was awarded scholarships for Senior Voice Performance in 2015 and 2016. She has also participated in local music festivals, including the Chilliwack Lions Club Music and Dance Festival, where she won awards for Senior Vocal Champion in 2015 and Open Masters Vocal Champion in 2016 and 2017. Recently, Sonja received the Dr. Jeanette Gallant Award for a Promising Senior Classical Voice Student at the 2018 Kiwanis Fraser Valley International Music Festival.

Sonja is a soprano and has a strong interest in early, renaissance and baroque music performance.

So ist mein Jesus nun gefangen, Duet

Dinah Ayre, Alto
Dinah Ayre grew up in a musical family on Vancouver Island and has loved singing in choirs from a young age. During high school she sang with Cantiamo Chamber Ensemble, and after a choir trip to Prague, Czech Republic to sing in historic cathedrals knew that choral music would be part of her life for good. Since moving to Vancouver she has completed an Artist Diploma and Music Performance Diploma at the Vancouver Academy of Music, studying with soprano Robyn Driedger-Klassen. Dinah has sung in the alto section of the Vancouver Chamber Choir since 2017.

Dinah’s musical interests are wide-ranging, from early music to opera to jazz. She has a special love for the music of J.S. Bach, which she enjoys performing both in traditional settings and contemporary re-imaginings. Dinah also has an interest in new music and working with local composers. In 2019 she sang in the premiere of the new one-act opera, The Woman Who Borrowed Memories, in the Vancouver Fringe Festival.
Dinah is thrilled to be joining Belle Voci and adding her voice to their stunning polyphony!

CSO- Sylwia Karwowska

Erbarme dich, mein Gott

Sylwia Karwowska comes from Poland. She obtained her Master of Arts degree in choral conducting from Academy of Music in Wrocław. She also holds Associate of Royal Conservatory of Music diploma in voice performance. Her diverse repertoire includes opera, oratorio-cantata and choral music. Currently she performs with Opera Pro Cantanti in Vancouver, including the title role in “Norma” by Vincenzo Bellini and Abigaille in G.Verdi’s Nabucco.
She is also active pianist and cellist performing string chamber music.
In addition to performing she teaches voice, piano, cello and ear-training at Tri-City School of Music and Bergthorson Academy of Musical Arts.

CSO - Richard Williams

Mache dich, mein Herze, rein, Bass Aria

Richard Williams, Bass
Richard Williams has been heard with various choirs and orchestras throughout Western Canada, including the Vancouver Bach Choir, Vancouver Opera Touring Ensemble, West Coast Symphony, Vancouver SummerChor, Kamloops Symphony, Handel Society and various others in the region. He made his European debut in 1992, and for several years performed in many of the world’s great music centers, including Frankfurt, Geneva, London, Milan and Paris.

Michael Vaughan-CSO

Es ist vollbracht! (Gamba)

Michael Vaughan
CSO Gamba
Michael Vaughan is originally from Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, but since 2004 he has lived in Vancouver and been performing with many diverse musical ensembles in BC. He performs with many classical orchestras, including The Vancouver Symphony, The Vancouver Island Symphony, The Kamloops Symphony and The Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra and Chilliwack Symphony Orchestra. Michael also performs with other smaller groups, including The Erato Ensemble, No Mothers, The Plastic Acid Orchestra, The Kenzie Jones Big Band and more. Michael also performs on the Baroque Double Bass and the viola da gamba, and has had the opportunity to perform with the Pacific Baroque Orchestra, Cantare Super Orchestram and the Early Music Vancouver Festival Orchestra.

CSO Erik Kallo

Es ist vollbracht!, Aria

Erik Kallo, Countertenor
Erik Kallo received his Bachelors of Voice Performance at the UBC and a Master of Music at the Royal College of Music in London, England.

In Canada, Erik primarily sang for West Vancouver United Church as a professional soloist and musica intima; a Juno award-nominated self-directed vocal chamber ensemble.
During his time at the Royal College of Music in London, England, Erik performed in Opera Scenes and had done Masterclasses with notable musicians such as:
Ashley Solomon’s Baroque Ensemble Florilegium, Robin Blaze, and Michael Chance among many others.
He also sang the role of Armindo from Handel’s Partenope with Hampstead Garden Opera and was a semi-finalist in one of the most prestigious vocal competitions the Kathleen Ferrier Wigmore Hall competition.

Chloe Meyers CSO

Chloe Meyers, Concertmaster

Violinist Chloe Meyers performs with early music ensembles across North America as a leader, orchestra member, and chamber musician.

She is the concertmaster of the Pacific Baroque Orchestra and Cantare Super Orchestram and co-concertmaster of Arion Baroque Orchestra in Montréal and has led or appeared as soloist with groups including Victoria Baroque, Pacific MusicWorks, Ensemble Les Boréades, the Theatre of Early Music, Ensemble Masques, and Les Voix Baroques, of which she was a founding member.

Chloe has had the pleasure of sharing the stage with international violin stars, performing double concerti with Stefano Montanari, Enrico Onofri, Amandine Beyer, and Cecilia Bernardini. Chloe’s playing may be heard on many award-winning disks, including three Juno-nominated recordings she led as concertmaster.

A committed and enthusiastic teacher, she trains young artists in the Baroque Orchestra Mentorship Program, an exciting initiative of the University of British Columbia, Early Music Vancouver, and Pacific Baroque Orchestra.