The Collegiate Chorale presents

THE ROAD OF PROMISE

Music by Kurt Weill
Libretto by Franz Werfel
Conductor and Director: Ted Sperling
Concert Adaptation by Ed Harsh

Accompanied by the Orchestra of St. Luke’s

Featuring: Anthony Dean Griffey, Mark Delavan, Ron Rifkin, Eli Tokash, AJ Glueckert, Lauren Michelle, Megan Marino, Justin Hopkins, Philip Cutlip, Sean Fallen, Jose Pietri-Coimbre

Press Representative: Michelle Tabnick

Carnegie Hall/Perelman Stage
May 6 and 7, 2015
http://collegiatechorale.org


THE ROAD OF PROMISE is a 1937 collaboration of Kurt Weill’s music and Franz Werfel’s narrative on the plight of God’s chosen people and their centuries of persecution and their hopes for a promised land. This concert was performed by The Collegiate Chorale’s 200 member chorus, accompanied by St. Luke’s Orchestra led by Ted Sperling.

The story unfolds through a multitude of singing and speaking parts. It is set in a synagogue with four primary characters: the Rabbi, a thirteen year old (who knows nothing about his religion), a contrarian called The Adversary, and The Voice of God (who is piped in and never seen). It is the evening of the “timeless night of Israel’s persecution”. As the Rabbi attempts to teach the young boy about his Jewish faith, the Adversary steps in to challenge these beliefs at every turn. They are joined on stage by singers who bring the Rabbi’s stories of Abraham, Jacob, Isaiah, Moses, David and others to life. The Rabbi enlightens the young boy in the hope that he will become a voice for their people. The scenes are sung with biblical art projected panoramically in the background.

The Collegiate Chorale was big and dramatic. Unfortunately, they were underused, since most of the music was allotted to soloists. The music, uninspiring at times, was a mesh of borrowed tunes, including opera, hit songs of the times, street tunes and traditional Jewish chant. The story, though not new to many of us, is always an interesting history lesson.

Several singers recanted the Old Testament stories in song, some more skillfully than others. However it was often difficult to decipher their words. Fortunately the projection on three panels of biblical art helped piece the story together, including drawings by Marc Chagall. Some of the text of the choral pieces and the Voice of God were also projected on the panels. Supertitling the soloists words would have significantly improved the experience. This was an ambitious and powerful performance that was likely most relevant to people of faith.

- Gloria Talamas -