Some thoughts upon reading of the oncoming demise of the great Philadelphia Singers... Andrea and I shall never forget hearing the late/great Michael Korns Messiah with the PHILADELPHIA SINGERS at Christ Church 2nd and Market in November of 1976! Ever. There was clarity, unbelievable intensity, excitement, and downright JOY! I thought those gorgeous windows were going to explode with the energy in that Church. When we as 22 year old newly weds moved to Philadelphia in August of 1976, Michael Korn was the first person to hire her to sing. She was in the Philly Singers and PCPA Chorus for quite a number of concerts right off the bat. He hired me to play play Lauda per la Nativita by Respighi in subscription concerts at St. Clements Church...Michael Stairs and I shared the piano/four hands honors in those concerts. We learned and experienced SO MUCH MUSIC with Michael and the Philly Singers! I played organ continuo in the Philadelphia premiere of Handels Samson at Congregation Rodeph Shalom, and I recall doing the Bach St. John Passion with Michael in the Chestnut Hill Bach Festival. He used Andrea to sing Messiah solos and B Minor Mass solos and Mary in Respighis Lauda (NPR Broadcast) among others. We both participated in MULTIPLE concerts with the Pennsylvania Ballet in Orffs Carmina Burana. We will BOTH be eternally grateful to Michael Korn and the Philadelphia Singers for encouraging us in those early days of our lives and work while Philadelphia residents. In fact, it was Michael Korn who recommended Andrea to Keith Chapman to be employed by the First Presbyterian Church in Philadelphias Choir. She eventually became their mezzo-soprano soloist, and I eventually succeeded Keith as organist-choirmaster. Michael encouraged me/us the ENTIRE time we lived there. I remember assisting Maestro Korn on multiple occasions with the Opera Company of Philadelphia. (He gave me some quotes that are un-printable here...!) Faust, Madama Butterfly, Romeo et Juliette, Death in Venice, Un Ballo in Maschera, La Boheme, and a HUGE concert for the chorus with Ghena Dimitrova and other major soloists. ALL UNFORGETTABLE! We wish nothing but the very best to those who have continued to sing and lead the Philadelphia Singers. (I apologize for the length of my response!) Sincerely and gratefully, tom jaber
Posted on: Wed, 17 Dec 2014 14:34:55 +0000
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