A Classical Start for Mother’s Day Weekend

 For moms with classical tastes, a night out to hear Brahms Requiem might be the perfect gift. The Ottawa Classical Choir presents Brahms Requiem will be held at the Dominion-Chalmers Church (355 Cooper St.) on May 10 at 7:30 p.m.

The Ottawa Classical Choir along with the Choirs of the New World Philharmonic Society, under the direction of Maestro Michel Brousseau will be playing Johannes Brahms’ signature composition Ein deutsches Requiem

To showcase the full power and majesty of Brahms work, local pianists Jean Desmarais and Danielle Maisonneuve, and timpanist Mélissa Lavergne will accompany the choir.

Soloists include internationally known locally-based soprano Maria Knapik (who will be performing this fall at Carnegie Hall with Maestro/pianist Michel Brousseau), and American baritone Krzysztof Biernacki, who has often performed with the Vancouver, Calgary and Winnipeg Symphonies, as well as in Italy and Carnegie Hall.

This concert is under the patronage of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany.  Jörn Rosenberg, Head of Government, Foreign and European Policy Department, will represent Ambassador Werner Franz Wnendt at this concert.

Like many great artists before him, Brahms had a curious reputation. The German composer was seen as something as a grump by adults, but was extremely generous with children, always keeping candy on hand.

Despite his fame and wealth, he lived modestly in an apartment and was known for wearing cheap clothes. He gave away money to friends and supported their musical endeavors, often in secret.

Brahms was also an unyielding perfectionist. He destroyed work not up to his standards and left others unpublished.

The acclaim given by of fellow German composer Robert Schumann might explain Brahms’ perfectionism, as Schumann touted Brahms as the next great composure.

Schumann’s prediction would turn out to be correct, as Brahms is one member of the “three B’s”, a grouping of history’s most popular and influential composers that also include  Johann Sebastian Bach and Ludwig van Beethoven.

Tickets are available at $40 (reserved), $30 (General admission), and $10 (for students).

Ticket locations include Leading Note, Books on Beechwood, Compact Music, CD Warehouse locations, and at www.ottawaclassicalchoir.com