Alexander’s Feast
November 23, 2024, 7:30 PM
An epic concert ode to St. Cecilia and the captivating tale of Alexander the Great and his lover Thaïs composed in 1736 by G.F. Handel. This performance marks a historic first for Hamilton and is rarely seen in North America, making it a must-see event!
Joining us for this special occasion are guest soloists, Bethany Horst, Owen McCausland, and Chris Palmer, along with members of the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, Chris Teeuwsen on organ, and Stephen Boda on harpsichord. Conducted by Bach Elgar Choir Artistic Director Alexander Cann. Experience the true power and beauty of this remarkable work for yourself. Don’t miss out!
Set at a banquet held by Alexander the Great and his mistress Thaïs in the captured Persian city of Persepolis, the musician Timotheus sings and plays his lyre, arousing Alexander’s moods until he is finally incited to burn the city down in revenge for his dead Greek soldiers.
Central Presbyterian Church
165 Charlton Ave W.
Hamilton, ON
Performers
Bethany Hörst, Soprano
Described as possessing a “bright, round and supple sound,” (Kitchener-Waterloo Record) soprano Bethany Hörst has quickly established herself on the stage in both opera and concert. Her roles include multiple Baroque operas, many Classical works, as well as 20th/21st Century repertoire. Equally comfortable in concert, Hörst has sung oratorio works with orchestras and major choirs across Canada.
Hörst has won several international competitions including the Lyndon Woodside Oratorio Solo Competition at Carnegie Hall in New York City. She was twice honoured as a District Winner and Regional Finalist at the Metropolitan Opera National Auditions, where she also received the Encouragement Award.
Hörst holds a Master of Music degree in Literature and Performance from Western University, where she currently teaches voice. Hörst Studio students frequently appear with Mirvish, Drayton Entertainment and the Stratford Festival.
Owen McCausland, Tenor
Canadian tenor Owen McCausland is increasingly in demand for both operatic and symphonic engagements across North America. Highlights of recent seasons include Verdi’s Otello and Puccini’s La fanciulla del west with The Cleveland Orchestra, Mozart’s Don Giovanni with Pacific Opera Victoria, and the premiere of Cusson’s Fantasma with the Canadian Opera Company. This season, Owen looks forward to returning to the Canadian Opera Company for Berg’s Wozzeck and Bilodeau’s La reine-garçon, and Vancouver Opera for Strauss’ Die Fledermaus. On the concert stage, he joins Grand Philharmonic Choir for Handel’s Messiah and the Victoria Symphony for Haydn’s Creation.
Owen’s previous season included appearances with Vancouver Opera (Tamino in Mozart’s The Magic Flute), the Adelaide Festival (Fisherman in Robert Lepage’s production of The Nightingale and Other Fables), and The Cleveland Orchestra, also for Mozart’s The Magic Flute. The 2022/2023 season saw returns to the Canadian Opera Company (Salome), Pacific Opera Victoria (Così fan tutte), his role debut as Lucio Silla with Opera in Concert (Toronto), the world premiere of Frehner’s LEX with Soundstreams, and Mendelssohn’s Elijah with the Grand Philharmonic Choir and Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony.
An alumnus of the Canadian Opera Company’s Ensemble Studio, he has been heard at the Four Seasons Centre as Pedrillo in Die Entführung aus dem Serail and the Fisherman in The Nightingale and Other Fables. Weill’s Sieben Todsünden for the Toronto Symphony, Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde for the Ottawa Symphony, Messiah for Symphony Nova Scotia, the London Symphonia and Regina Symphony, Tamino in Die Zauberflöte and Lurcanio in Ariodante for the Canadian Opera Company, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 for Kitchener-Waterloo’s Grand Philharmonic Choir and Regina Symphony, and Rodolfo in La bohème for Against the Grain Theatre are among recent credits.
Chris Palmer, Bass
Chris Palmer is a baritone, guitarist, improvisor and teacher who has performed a wide variety of musical styles and released a number of recordings over the last three decades. In recent years he has ventured into classical voice and has been a chorister and soloist with the Bach Elgar Choir and the Melrose Chancel choir. Chris recently had his opera debut perfoming in La Boheme with the Southern Ontario Lyric Opera.
Chris continues to play the guitar with his quintet, Ghost Variables.