DailyProgress.com: In May 2018, the Oratorio Society premieres “Testimonial” composed by Adolphus Hailstork and based on a poem by Virginian Rita Dove

The Oratorio Society of Virginia, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary season, will offer its annual "Christmas at the Paramount" concert twice.
Courtesy the Oratorio Society of Virginia

 

 

Adolphus C. Hailstork

 

Rita Dove

 

 

Daily Progress  

Oratorio Society celebrates Christmas, marks anniversary

BY JANE DUNLAP SATHE

Dec 12, 2017

On May 25, 2018, the chorus will present the world premiere of “Testimonial,” a newly commissioned work by composer Adolphus Hailstork that’s based on a poem by Rita Dove.

Hailstork is professor of music and eminent scholar at Old Dominion University. Dove, who is Commonwealth Professor of English at the University of Virginia, has served as poet laureate of the United States and poet laureate of Virginia.

Hailstork’s “Testimonial” will be premiered during “Celebrating 50 Years of the Oratorio Society: 50th Anniversary Gala Concert,” which is set for 7 p.m. May 25 in Cabell Hall Auditorium. Also on the program will be W.A. Mozart’s “Mass in C minor” and an excerpt from “Messiah.” The Oratorio Encore Society also will appear.

It’s not the first time the singers have commissioned and performed music based on Dove’s poetry to mark a milestone. For the chorus’ 30th anniversary, composer Walter Ross penned “The Pleasure’s in Walking Through: A Song of the Seasons,” which the Oratorio Society premiered in March 1998. Dove served as the soprano soloist.

Comment by email: 

 

Hi Bill,

Thanks. Though the piece is based on Dove's poem, the title I have decided upon is THE WORLD CALLED. 

Just want to set the record straight.

Adolphus [Adolphus C. Hailstork]