ArtsWatch Reviews Fall of Constantinople


Portland Fall of Constantinople Concert 2014Oregon ArtsWatch reviews the Portland performance of The Fall of Constantinople, saying “Portland vocal ensemble excels in hometown performance before major European festival appearance”:

“Just past what the Greeks called ‘dog days of summer,’ Cappella Romana shone like Sirius in our Portland sky. Saturday night the premier choral ensemble presented a thoughtful, dramatic performance of Greek and Latin compositions written before and after the fall of Constantinople, the title of the concert. … All ten voices in Cappella Romana were remarkable. Jon Boyer, Mark Powell (and conductor/artistic director Alexander Lingas) were first rate in lead roles as Priest or Deacon. Mel Downie Robinson and Catherine Van der Salm were pristine, mellow in their intermittent roles. … Kudos to Cappella Romana, which last month received a $90,000 grant from the Oregon Community Foundation. And bravo to the Foundation for recognizing that Cappella Romana is a worthy ensemble led by one of the world’s leading scholars in Byzantine music, a Portland treasure, Dr. Alexander Lingas. My pew-mate for the concert, a Portland visitor from a small town of 5,000, said hearing this music was like going back in time, being immersed in an era – a period- piece concert. The only thing missing, she said, was a stone cold church and a gentle snowfall. OK. I get that. Transported is good.” —Bruce Browne, Oregon ArtsWatch

Read the full review at OrArtsWatch.org!