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Article: Tackling Handel's 'Esther'
- Article from:
- Edison-Norwood Times Review (IL)
- Article date:
- February 14, 2008
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2008, Edison-Norwood Times Review, Pioneer Press. All rights reserved. REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED. (Hide copyright information)
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The Callipygian Players will present their biggest concert ever, a performance of Handel's "Esther" Oratorio on Feb. 17 in Skokie with 30 musicians and singers.
"It's a story of love and hate," says Skokie violinist and Callipygian director Martin Davids. "The (Persian) king is trying to annihilate the Jews, and Queen Esther saves her people. It's full of gorgeous arias and strong choruses. The finale is a 12-minute marathon chorus."
The concert will feature a star-studded vocal cast: opera singer and cantor Benjamin Warschawski as Ahasueros, Amanda Majeski as Esther, Jeffrey Strauss as Haman, Edward Zelnis as Mordechai and Israeli soprano Orna Arania as the Israelite woman. Martin Davids' ...