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Considering Matthew Shepard
June 17, 2023 @ 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM
$25 – $40Considering Matthew Shepard
presented by
Halifax Camerata Singers
Saturday June 17, 2023 at 7:30 pm
Sunday June 18, 2023 at 2 pm
St. Andrew’s United Church, corner Coburg/Robie streets, Halifax
Considering Matthew Shepard by Craig Hella Johnson is an unusual choral concert for the Halifax Camerata Singers. This contemporary choral Passion tells the true story of a young gay man who was murdered 25 years ago in Wyoming. And while this seems like a rather dark theme for our June concert, it is a remarkably positive story of community support, vindication, compassion and hope.
The story is told through solo arias, narration, and choruses in a variety of musical styles. Listeners will hear snippets of Bach’s Prelude in C Major as well as echoes of classic chorales, country and bluegrass, Broadway, blues, gospel , and Gregorian chant. The text of the libretto draws from poets and writers whose lives spanned several centuries.
A short synopsis: a young gay university student, Matthew Shepard, is lured from a bar, taken to an isolated place, beaten, and left to die alone. His story might have ended there, but for a Baptist church whose pastor incited his parishioners to stage an anti-gay protest at the young man’s funeral. This caught the attention of the US media, and their network coverage led to national outrage, candlelight vigils, an outpouring of support, and an international call for acceptance and respect for individuality. Matthew’s story is still inspiring us 25 years later, as society continues to struggle with anti-gay sentiment.
Guest narrator is Louise Renault, with pianist Cynthia Davies filling in during Lynette Wahlstrom’s leave of absence. Camerata is joined by an instrumental ensemble that includes Philippe Djokic, violin; Alexandra Bates, viola; Hilary Brown, cello; Max Kasper, bass; Scott Macmillan, guitar; Eileen Walsh, clarinet; and Erin Donovan, percussion.
This will be a remarkable concert, artistic director Jeff Joudrey’s final event before he retires at the end of June. Considering Matthew Shepard has been performed all over the world but this is the first production in eastern Canada. It will be poignant, evocative and memorable for its message and the great music that was composed to tell the story.
Tickets $25-$40 are available at tickethalifax.com or via a link at HalifaxCamerata.org
Content warning
This performance contains references to and implied depictions of homophobia, violence, and murder.