Qatar Concert Choir performing along with Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra at QNCC, yesterday.
The night was filled with classical music from powerhouses Qatar Concert Choir (QCC) and Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra (QPO) who joined together for a concert marking the former a decade since it was formed.
Performing for the first time again since the pandemic started, QCC and QPO serenaded the full house of Qatar National Convention Center (QNCC) with a Western classical music called Baroque which dated back to 1600 to 1750.
QCC also performed alone in a cappella performing “Abendlied” or “Song of the evening” composed by a German romantic Josef Rheinberger.
Speaking to The Peninsula, Qatar Concert Choir Conductor and Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra Principal, Viola Giovanni Pasini said: “This piece is very pure and it goes well with the Baroque pieces.”
Moreover, he said that choosing the Baroque music dated back when the choir used to sing such kind of music 10 years ago.
In a video message, QCC founder Katrin Meingast, recalled how the group was formed saying: “The idea was just to come together and perform, the idea was just in a house setting with friends and playing, and I said no, let’s do it perfectly right , let’s send a message and start Bach choir.”
QCC was initially founded as the Doha Bach Choir a decade before with the aim to promote Baroque choral music in Qatar.
Playing Baroque music is strenuous, the pieces are tricky to perform as it was created over hundreds of years ago.
This year’s concert focused on Bach and Handel. Among the pieces performed are Acis and Galatea – Overture, HWV 49a, Acis and Galatea “Happy We!", HWV 49a; Arcangelo Corelli: Concerto Grosso in D Major, Op.6, No.4; Adagio – Allegro; Adagio; Vivace; Allegro – Allegro; Josef Rheinberger: “Abendlied” op. 69,3; and Johann Sebastian Bach: Cantata “Tönet, ihr Pauken, erschallet, Trompeten!” BWV 214.
Pasini explained: “In order for you to learn it, you need a different set of mind and skill. Because we will be studying a lot of books about how this music has performed 400-500 years ago, and so there is a technique of playing which is a little different from the normal playing.”
Singing anew to the crowd, Pasini said: “The orchestra are already playing, they are doing some shows since September but the choir was not allowed because singing is the most dangerous thing, so we are finally allowed with a mask and we have to keep one meter distance - it’s very tough to the singers to wear a mask. In one piece I joined the choir to sing, and they were suffering like hell, for one piece only, I’m amazed that they can do the whole concert with a mask on.”
In a recent development, Pasini also revealed that the QCC is planning to make an album featuring traditional Arabic songs, and a concert together again with QPO in the future.
