The Kamloops Symphony’s penultimate concert of the 2022/23 Season, part of their Noran Masterworks Series, is Brahms’ Requiem, taking place in Sagebrush Theatre on Saturday, April 1 at 7:30 pm. Joining the orchestra on stage will be the KSO Chorus and two stunning soloists; soprano Emma Jang and baritone Micah Schroeder.

Johannes Brahms’ Ein deutsches Requiem (or “A German Requiem”) is widely considered to be one of the most incoinc choral pieces of the classical repertoire. The piece traces a journey of grief: there is sorrow, anger, and pain, but also warmth, brightness, and calm. The texts he chose, very different from the typical texts for the Catholic Mass of the Dead, seem intended to soothe those who mourn. We start in darkness, find a hazy light, and end in a sort of acceptance. Also unlike the standard Latin requiem, Brahms didn’t include any vengeance or judgement, placing human suffering in the foreground and omitting much of the religious imagery. Brahms reportedly told a friend of his that he could happily omit the “German” from the title and simply say “Human.”

Because you cannot perform an iconic choral work without a choir, the orchestra will be joined once again by the KSO Chorus. The KSO Chorus provides local singers with the opportunity to perform masterworks for choir and orchestra in concert with the Kamloops Symphony, and is led by Chorus Master Tomas Bijok.

The other guest artists for this concert are soprano soloist Emma Jang and baritone soloist Micah Schroeder. Emma Jang is a Vancouver-based singer who recently completed her M.Mus in Opera Performance at UBC. She has performed in numerous roles with UBC Opera, in addition to performing in collaboration with organizations such as Opera West, Bard on the Beach, Opera Unbound, and Players & Singers. Emma was a recipient of this year’s Tony and Hildegard Cavelti Foundation Award, which was distributed as part of the Vancouver Opera Foundation Bursary Program.

Micah Schroeder is a graduate of the opera studio of Opéra de Lyon, the Vancouver Opera Yulanda M. Faris Young Artist Program, and the Opera Idaho Young Artist Program. In addition to performing in numerous traditional opera roles he is also a champion of contemporary repertoire, and recently curated and created the documentary film DENKMAL as an Artist-in-Residence for Pacific Opera Victoria. Micah has been a featured performer with the Aspen Opera Centre, Banff Centre, Against the Grain Theatre, Saskatoon Opera, Vancouver Symphony, and is making his second appearance with the KSO.

Kamloops Symphony Music Director Dina Gilbert said “Featuring two amazing soloists and presented in its chamber orchestration, Brahms’ Requiem will be an occasion to hear the chorus in its most exciting challenge since our sold-out performance of Carmina Burana, years ago.”

Brahms’ Requiem consists solely of Ein deutsches Requiem, and the duration of the concert is approximately 90 minutes without an intermission.

Tickets are $49.99, $44.99 for Seniors, $10 for Youth (under 19), $15 for KSOundcheck members (age 19-34), $25 for the KSO Up Close Seats (the front three rows in Sagebrush Theatre), and are available from Kamloops Live! Box Office by going to kamloopslive.ca or calling 250.374.5483.