La Sierra University presents “Oh My Son” operatic tableaux in West Coast premiere performances

The tableaux performance, titled “Oh My Son,” tells the story of Jesus of Nazareth through a series of short scenes performed by operatic vocalists, chorus and orchestra. The story specifically focuses on Jesus’ relationship with his mother, Mary, and offers poignant insight into the humanity and emotions of key characters during Jesus’ ministry, death and resurrection.

“Oh My Son” will be presented at the Loma Linda University Church in Loma Linda on Sat., April 11 at 7 p.m. and will feature La Sierra University vocal instructor, tenor Javier Gonzalez as Jesus, soprano Suzanne Kantorski as Mary, La Sierra’s director of vocal studies, soprano Raejin Lee as Mary Magdalene, and baritone Museop Kim as Pilate. The production will include the La Sierra University Orchestra, La Sierra University Chorale, and the Loma Linda University Sanctuary Choir. Dean Anderson, La Sierra’s director of orchestral studies, will serve as the production’s conductor.

Excerpts from “Oh My Son” will be performed during Easter programs at the La Sierra University Church in Riverside, Thurs. – Sun., April 2 - 5. Information is at www.La Sierra Universitychurch.org. The work will make its Walt Disney Concert Hall debut on Sun., June 21 at 7:30 p.m. with tickets available during the Easter season.

“Oh My Son” comes to Southern California through Gonzalez’s longtime friendship with Galvany, a former college classmate and music student at Washington Adventist University in Takoma Park, Md. As with the work’s East Coast rollout, the organizers intentionally planned a West Coast premiere to take place first at community churches followed by a performance at a major venue due to the production’s religious nature. “As has been the custom, we felt that it was important to do the work at one of the local churches before the big concert hall performance since this work at its core is about the gospel [and] therefore should be presented in the local community in collaboration with the local churches,” said Gonzalez. 

Galvany, a native of Spain, composed an aria titled “Oh My Son” while in college in Takoma Park. The piece depicts Jesus’ mother, Mary, singing to her dying son while he hangs on the cross. It became an audience favorite when performed by Washington Adventist University’s New England Youth Ensemble and the university’s collegiate choir, Gonzalez said. “Marcos was encouraged by many to compose a larger work around this one aria and this is how the whole work of “Oh My Son” was born. He continued to compose the different melodies for the choir and develop more arias for the other characters,” said Gonzalez.

Galvany’s musical creation is the result of years of work and is significantly influenced by the rich cultural and religious Holy Week celebrations he enjoyed as a boy in Crevillente, Spain. Sculptures of Jesus and other characters were paraded through the streets on carts adorned with flowers. His mother told him the stories of the Bible represented by each sculpture, and the message touched his heart. “This opera is the story of the cross in its many human dimensions: grief, betrayal, compassion, doubt and faith. But most of all, it is a story of a selfless and world-changing act of love,” states a description of the work on Galvany’s website.

Gonzalez sang the role of Jesus during the production’s first performances at churches and other venues in New York and Washington D.C., and played the role of Jesus’ beloved disciple John during the work’s debut at Carnegie Hall on April 10, 2010. Galvany and his production received top reviews and coverage by English and Spanish-language media including National Public Radio and The Washington Post.

A native of Southern California, Gonzalez holds a master’s degree in vocal performance and choral conducting from the University of New Mexico. His operatic roles have included Tamino in “The Magic Flute,” Pinkerton in “Madame Butterfly,” Don Jose in “Carmen” and many others. He has performed with various orchestras around the country including the New Mexico Philharmonic, New England Symphonic Ensemble, and the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra, and has performed with such famed artists as Placido Domingo, John Rutter and Brandford Marsalis. An award-winning vocalist, his competition prizes include first place in the Barry Alexander International Vocal Competition in New York City.

Kantorski, a vocalist with numerous awards, has forged a prominent career in the worlds of opera, film, and concert performances, as well as in new music, contemporary classical, rare concert works and jazz. In opera, her roles have included Mimi and Musetta in “La Boheme,” Pamina in “Die Zauberflöte,” Blanche in “Street Car Named Desire,” Micaëla in “Carmen” and many other characters. Her work in film includes an appearance in “Il Destino,” an independent short directed by Ricardo Correa Berriozabal and shown internationally, and the feature film adaption this year of “La Boheme” in which she stars as Mimi. The film is directed by Jose Luis Cortes.

Last year Kantorski recorded Galvany’s “Oh My Son” which features members of the Washington National Opera Orchestra and chorus. Her work in other genres can also be heard on recordings for the Albany, Bridgestar and divinearts record labels. In addition to concert performances for charity events and organizations, she is a founding artist of Dionysus, a jazz ensemble that tours regularly throughout New England. Kantorski, also an educator, music researcher, lecturer and writer, has also appeared on nationally syndicated radio programs including NPR’s “Sound Check” and Vermont Public Radio’s “Saturday Afternoon at the Opera.”

Lee maintains an active performance career with appearances throughout the United States, Italy and Korea in oratorio, recital and opera. Her many operatic roles include Juliette in “Roméo et Juliette,” Gretel in “Hansel and Gretel,” and Despina in “Cosí fan tutte.” Her many honors and awards include special prize from the Italian American Cultural Foundation for a distinguished performance of the Italian Art Song repertoire. She was a featured soloist in the Contemporary Vocal Ensemble at Indiana University, and completed doctoral studies at Rutgers University in New Jersey as a student of Faith Esham.

Kim, an Orange County resident and award-winning vocalist, is a graduate of the Juilliard Opera Center. His long list of credits includes performances with the Los Angeles Opera in the roles of Mercutio in “Roméo et Juliette” conducted by Placido Domingo, Schaunard in “La Boheme” conducted by Patrick Summers, and A Thug in the world premiere of Daniel Catan’s “Il Postino,” Grant Gershon conducting. Recently, he sang the role of English Ambassador in the West Coast premiere of “The Ghost of Versailles,” also with the Los Angeles Opera. Additionally he has appeared with the Seattle Opera, the Wolf Trap Opera and National Symphony Orchestra, and the Aspen Music Festival.

Tickets for the April 11 performance at the Loma Linda University Church range from $10 - $20 and are available at lasierra.edu/music/. For further information call 951-785-2036 or email music@lasierra.edu.