Pro Coro continues search for artistic director

Pro Coro Canada’s search for a new artistic director has introduced not only new faces, but also novel compositions that have livened up the landscape.

This coming Sunday (Nov. 20) at McDougall United Church, Pro Coro presents the last in a series of concerts conducted by three finalists vying for the artistic director’s chair.

Swiss-born, Montreal-based Michael Zaugg picks up the baton with Path of Wonder, a program filled with awe-inspiring moments of spiritual transformation.

Since his arrival in Canada in 2004, Zaugg has distinguished himself as a conductor in Eastern Canada with three choirs of different persuasions — the St. Lawrence Choir, Voce Boreales and Cantata Singers of Ottawa.

Prior to his involvement in the Canadian scene, Zaugg was the first Swiss conductor to be accepted to the Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm, Sweden where he specialized in the Scandinavian repertoire.

“I have been following Pro Coro for about 10 years. It is one of the top 10 Canadian groups. Not many cities have a group like this to call their own. With my Scandinavian background, I think I can bring an added element,” says Zaugg. This is his debut concert with Pro Coro.

The two pivotal works that are the foundation of Path of Wonder are the opening and closing compositions – Die erste Elegie by Einojuhani Rautavaara and Santiago (from Path of Miracles) by Joby Talbot.

Each work describes a spiritual conversion filled with awe. The first expresses man’s wonder at coming face to face with angels. The second illustrates a transformation at the pilgrimage of Santiago de Compostela.

Zaugg describes the Elegie as writing “with lyrical lines, beautiful chords and beautiful melody. It builds and builds and ends in a bright light.”

Santiago, the fourth movement of a cycle, instead is an account of people travelling and experiencing the marvels of a pilgrimage.

“Joby travelled to Santiago and collected melodies people were singing while walking on the pilgrimage, and he came back to England and wrote the piece.”

Another important element of the concert is the prism of light portrayed in various works such as Eric Whitacre’s Lux Aurumque, Edward Elgar’s Lux Aeterna as well as the Bach motet Komm, Jesu, komm.

“This concert has fantastic repertoire. Every listener will find something on the emotional or intellectual level.”