Haydn’s Creation
Saturday, April 20th
2PM
Benaroya Hall
200 University St.
Seattle, WA 98101
SINGLE TICKETS
$25-$35
Save on advance purchase ($30 Gen, $20 Stu/Sr) through PNW by emailing:
tickets@philharmonianw.org

PROGRAM

Haydn: Creation

ABOUT THE CONCERT

Joined by Kirkland Choral Society, Philharmonia Northwest will present Joseph Haydn’s masterpiece, The Creation (German: Die Schöpfung). Considered one of his most brilliant works, the oratorio depicts the creation of the world as described in the Book of Genesis. Combining beautiful vocal writing with his mature classical symphony style, Haydn created the most magnificent oratorio of his time.

Kirkland Choral Society

Tess Altiveros, soprano

Tim Janecke, tenor

Charles Robert Stephens, baritone

GUEST ARTISTS

With over 100 auditioned singers, Kirkland Choral Society has become one of the premier symphonic choral groups in the Puget Sound region. Since 1988, KCS has presented a wide-ranging repertoire of classical and modern choral masterworks to Seattle and Eastside audiences, providing opportunities for both singer and audience to experience choral music at its nest.

Tess Altiveros, soprano

Praised for “a ripe, sensual lyric soprano”(Opera News) and a “captivating combination of skilled singing and magnetic acting” (Pioneer Press), soprano Tess Altiveros is in high demand on concert and operatic stages alike.  

2017/2018 season highlights included E in Seattle Opera’s acclaimed O+E, Pamina in Die Zauberflöte (Pacific Symphony), Euridice/Proserpina in the West Coast tour of Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo under Grammy winning conductor, Stephen Stubbs, two appearances as Maria in West Side Story (Symphony Tacoma and Central City Opera/Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra), and Missions and Mysteries with Stephen Stubbs at the Berkeley Festival and Exhibition.  Other recent credits include Clorinda in Seattle Opera’s The Combat, Bach St. Matthew Passion (Colorado Symphony, staged), Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni (Skylark Opera Theatre), Musetta in La Bohème under the baton of maestro Andrew Litton (Colorado Symphony), Carmen in La Tragédie de Carmen (Skylark Opera Theatre), Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro (Angels & Demons Entertainment), the Vaughan Williams Dona Nobis Pacem (Seattle Pro Musica), and Miss Jessel in Turn of the Screw (Eugene Opera).  Tess has also sung leading ladies with Opera Fairbanks, Juneau Lyric Opera, Eugene Opera, Tacoma Opera, City Opera Ballet, and Vespertine Opera Theater, to name a few.

Upcoming engagements include Hannah in The Merry Widow (Inland Northwest Opera), L’enfant in L’enfant et les sortileges (Pacific Symphony), Lulu in the world premiere of The Princess Sophia (The Orpheus Project), Eads’s Mass for the Oppressed (Anchorage Concert Chorus), her role reprisal in Robert Neu’s fully staged St Matthew Passion (Shreveport Symphony Orchestra), Dalila in Handel’s Samson (Pacific MusicWorks), and the Lake George Music Festival.  A native Seattleite, Miss Altiveros has been a regular singer for the Seattle Mariners for over a decade, and holds a Master’s degree in vocal performance from the University of Washington.

Timothy Janecke, tenor

A transplant to the Pacific Northwest, tenor Timothy Janecke is excited to be performing as tenor soloist for Haydn’s Creation. This performance marks his 3rd appearance as a soloist at Benaroya Hall, the most recent appearance being last year’s Verdi Requiem with Philharmonia Northwest and Kirkland Choral Society.

He has recently been heard singing Count Loris Ivanov (Fedora) with Puget Sound Concert Opera, Don José (Carmen) with Tacoma Opera, tenor soloist for Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with Federal Way Symphony. Recent operatic roles for Mr. Janecke include Lensky (Eugene Onegin) with Tacoma Opera, Hagenbach (La Wally) with Puget Sound Concert Opera, Macheath (Threepenny Opera)with Tacoma Opera, Riccardo Percy (Anna Bolena) with Puget Sound Concert Opera, Gherardo (Gianni Schicchi) and Tinca (Il Tabarro) with Vachon Opera, Tybalt (Roméo et Juliette) with Tacoma Opera, and Gerard (Lakmé) with Puget Sound Concert Opera.

Mr. Janecke is also an accomplished ensemble singer as well, as he is currently a regular chorister with Seattle Opera and tenor section leader with Bellevue Presbyterian Church. In the past, Timothy has worked with Chicago Symphony Chorus, Grant Park Symphony Chorus, and Lyric Opera of Chicago. Timothy also works with youth throughout the state of Washington through Seattle Opera’s Education outreach and has been involved in the past 3 children’s opera productions which are performed at public schools. Timothy resides in Woodinville with his wife and 3 children.

Charles Robert Stephens, baritone

Charles has enjoyed a career spanning a wide variety of roles and styles in opera and concert music. In his 20 years in New York City he sang leading roles with the New York City Opera and was hailed by the New York Times as a “baritone of smooth distinction.” He also appeared frequently in Carnegie Hall with the Opera Orchestra of New York and was active in regional opera throughout the US. On the international stage, he sang opera roles in Montevideo Uruguay, Taiwan, Santo Domingo and Mexico City.

Now based in Seattle, Charles has sung with the Seattle Symphony, Northwest Sinfonietta, Tacoma and Spokane Symphony, Spokane Opera, Portland Chamber Orchestra and many other orchestras and opera companies in the Pacific Northwest. He joined the roster of the Seattle Opera in 2010 for the premiere of Amelia by Daron Hagan.

Recent collaborations with early music expert Stephen Stubbs include the role of Tiresias in the Boston Early Music Festival’s lavish production of Steffani’s Niobe, Queen of Thebes. A long association with Maestro Gary Thor Wedow has led to two performances with the Seattle Symphony: Messiah and “Opera Festival.” He premiered the role of Rudyard Kipling in John Muehleisen’s world premiere cantata entitled But Who Shall Return to Us Our Children? A Kipling Passion.

The 2018-19 season brings performances of Messiah, Haydn’s Creation, Beethoven’s Symphony # 9, Bach Christmas Oratorio, Scarpia in Tosca, Melchior in Amahl and the Night Visitors and the Father in Hansel and Gretel.

Besides being an active recital and concert singer, he is also a highly sought-after voice teacher. He is on the voice faculty at Pacific Lutheran University and serves as soloist at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Medina, WA.

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