Pro Coro Chamber Choir pays annual tribute to Good Friday

On one of the most dramatic days of the Christian calendar, Pro Coro Chamber Choir invites you to its traditional Good Friday concert at the Winspear Centre.

Joining them is the University of Alberta Madrigal Singers under the direction of Sara Brooks. The Pro Coro Strings will accompany the 25 Pro Coro voices and the 32 Madrigals.

Pro Coro conductor Michael Zaugg presents a two-part program that explores Jesus Christ’s crucifixion as well as his mother Mary’s private pain.

“In the weeks leading up to Good Friday, the audience has listened to the Passion of Christ and in the first half, we will be looking at Christ on the Cross. In the second half, we will look at it from the mother’s perspective, and as a parent it would certainly be something to see your child treated in this way and how terrible it would be,” said Zaugg.

The concert’s two centrepieces are Welshman Paul Mealor’s Stabat Mater and The Shadow of Thy Cross. He first came to international attention after one of his works was performed at the Prince William-Kate Middleton wedding, noted Zaugg.

A second highlight of the concert is the Madrigal Singers presentation of Alberta composer Christine Donkin’s Paradisium, a setting of the traditional Requiem mass that begins and ends in tranquillity.

The first half opens with Anton Bruckner’s Christus factus est pro nobis, a Gregorian chant that was written in 1884.

“Bruckner uses the Gregorian idea and puts it in a romantic context. The melodic line is the idea of chant, but it is very romantic, very soft to very loud.”

It is followed with Polish composer Pawel Lukaszewski’s a cappella motet, Crucem Tuam Adoramus (We Adore Thy Cross), a work that is lush and surprising.

“I performed the work four years ago and the singers loved the piece.”

Zaugg also presents the first North American performance of Paul Mealor’s The Shadow of Thy Cross, a motet that was premiered in Glasgow in connection with the First World War centenary.

And in the second half, Mealor’s Stabat Mater (Weeping Mother) is so well written and emotionally engaging said Zaugg.

He encourages music fans to attend the concert to simply enjoy the sheer beauty of music.

“Even if you are a non-believer, you can still hear the music and find meaning especially if you are a parent that has lost a child.”

Both Mealor and Donkin will attend the concert and an autograph session follows the concert.