Under the artistic direction of Thomas Burton, the Orpheus Choir of Toronto is celebrating its 60th anniversary with an unearthed oratorio's historic first Canadian performance in over 100 years.
On March 22 at Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, the choral group — as well as a chamber orchestra conducted by Burton and special guests the Nathaniel Dett Chorale, Canada's first professional Afrocentric choir — will perform Samuel Coleridge-Taylor's 1903 piece The Atonement, which has not been presented to Canadian audiences in over a century.
"We are honoured to present this important work, not only for its historical significance but for its enduring relevance in today's cultural conversations," Burton said in a press release. "Samuel Coleridge-Taylor was a trailblazer in blending Western classical traditions with traditional African musical language, and The Atonement is a beautiful expression of his talent and his commitment to social change."
Born in 1875, Coleridge-Taylor (not to be confused with Samuel Taylor Coleridge, the English poet of nearly the same name) was a composer of English and Sierra Leonean heritage who was referred to by the white musicians in New York City as "African Mahler" during his three tours of the US in the early 1900s. His works often explored themes of identity, and he was perhaps best known for his three cantatas on Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's 1855 epic poem, The Song of Hiawatha.
Tickets for the Orpheus Choir's performance of The Atonement — featuring soloists Ian Gillis, Leandra Dahm, William Salinas-Crosby, Rayna Crandlemire, Anika Venkatesh and Sarah Mole — are on sale now, with discounted prices available for seniors and arts workers.