Handel Society of Dartmouth College

Dr. Robert Duff, conductor

Fire and Ice

A Cantata on the Poetry of Robert Frost

by Andrea Clearfield

with special guests
Elizabeth Keusch, soprano
Erma Gattie Mellinger, mezzo-soprano
Paul Shikany, tenor
David Arnold, bass
Daniel Weiser, piano
Sally Pinkas, piano
Hanover Chamber Orchestra

Saturday, MAY 19 • 8 pm

Spaulding Auditorium
$18 • Dartmouth students $3

Click to download PROGRAM NOTES

Set to poetry by the inimitable Robert Frost and commissioned by the Handel Society of Dartmouth College in honor of its Bicentennial, Andrea Clearfield's new work Fire and Ice is a stunning choral cantata for soprano and baritone soloists, chorus and orchestra. Her timely oratorios, hailed as “compositional wizardry” (The Philadelphia Inquirer), have garnered Dr. Clearfield international attention and numerous awards. Also on the Handel Society's program for this Anniversary concert are Beethoven's uplifting Choral Fantasy in C minor for piano, chorus and orchestra—with guest pianist Sally Pinkas — and Brahms' dark yet serene Nänie, for chorus and orchestra with text by Schiller.

“Some say the world will end in fire
Some say in ice.
From what I've tasted of desire,
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.”

Robert Frost

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RELATED EVENTS

Pre-performance discussion with composer Andrea Clearfield and members of the Handel Society, 6 pm, Spaulding Auditorium.

Post-performance reception, Top of the Hop