Cailin Marcel Manson to conduct Springfield Symphony Orchestra concert

Guest conductor Cailin Marcel Manson will lead the Springfield Symphony Orchestra’s “Eternal Echoes” concert on Saturday, March 15. (Submitted)Submitted

Guest conductor Cailin Marcel Manson will lead the Springfield Symphony Orchestra during Saturday’s concert, “Eternal Echoes,” featuring works by Ennio Morricone, James Rutter and Tchaikovsky with vocal accompaniment by the Springfield Symphony Chorus and guest soprano Jamie-Rose Guarrine.

Showtime at Springfield Symphony Hall is 3 p.m.

“Gabriel’s Oboe” – an iconic piece known for its stunning simplicity and emotional power – will open the evening. Featured in the film “The Mission,” the work conveys profound grace and beauty through the voice of the oboe, setting a contemplative and soothing tone for the concert. The rich, spiritual tapestry of John Rutter’s “Requiem” follows combining traditional Latin texts with English Psalm settings, creating a celestial fusion of choral and orchestral elements. The “Requiem” is renowned for its lyrical poignancy and ethereal harmonies, providing moments of reflective solace and uplifting hope. The program culminates with the electrifying drama of Tchaikovsky’s “Symphony No. 4.” The symphony is a compelling narrative of human struggle and triumph, featuring Tchaikovsky’s signature sweeping melodies and powerful orchestration. With its explosive brass fanfares, haunting motifs, and eventually, an exuberant finale, this symphony captures the relentless spirit of destiny and personal resilience.

A Philadelphia native, Manson, baritone and conductor, studied voice performance at Temple University, and opera performance and orchestral conducting at the Universität Mozarteum Salzburg. He has toured as a soloist and master teacher at major concert venues throughout the United States. He has also been a guest cantor and soloist at some of the world’s most famous churches and cathedrals. Manson recently made an acclaimed Carnegie Hall conducting debut with MidAmerica Productions in March 2023, leading Giuseppe “Verdi’s Messa da Requiem,” becoming the second Black person in the performance history of Carnegie Hall to conduct the work at that historic venue. He is an advocate for rarely heard repertoire and the work of underrepresented composers.

“We are lucky to have Cailin as guest conductor, He is a remarkable talent. I met him last year and we asked him to conduct our youth education concert. He did a wonderful job, and it was a huge success. When we asked him to conduct that concert, we were already thinking of asking him to work with the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, where he could show off his wonderful conducting skills. Cailin has a vast repertoire and history of conducting beautiful choral concerts, which led us to working with him and putting together this amazing concert featuring Rutter’s ‘Requiem.’ There are many beautiful requiems written by Mozart, Brahms and others. But Rutter’s is particularly beautiful and uplifting,” said Paul Lambert, president and CEO of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra.

“It is always a joy to feature our Springfield Symphony Chorus as part of our concerts. They are a wonderful group who love music and are dedicated to performing with us. Our guest soprano Jamie-Rose Guarrine is a local talent, and we are delighted to feature her after Nikki Stoia, who is director of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, brought her to our attention for this concert. It’s going to be a very special afternoon and I hope the weather cooperates and many people will come out and have a good time,” he added.

Soprano soloist and UMass vocal professor Jamie-Rose Guarrine will perform in the Springfield Symphony Orchestra’s “Eternal Echoes” concert on Saturday, March 15. (Submitted)Submitted

Stoia praised Rutter’s “Requiem.”

“Rutter is known for his absolutely beautiful choral writing, and that is what this concert is all about. The Springfield Symphony Chorus will have a major role in his ‘Requiem’ as well as smaller parts in ‘Gabriel’s Oboe’ and ‘Symphony No. 4.’ Saturday’s concert will be a great experience for our audience to hear Rutter’s ‘Requiem’ and for our singers to learn and perform. Audiences might even forget that they are listening to a requiem with Rutter’s work evoking all different kinds of emotions. He writes good melodies and it is a pleasure for choruses to perform his works,” Stoia said.

Stoia has worked with both the guest conductor and guest soprano in the past.

“I was an accompanist at one of Cailin’s concerts at the Shea Theater in Turners Falls and I am a colleague of Jamie-Rose at the University of Massachusetts Amherst,” she said.

Guarrine is assistant professor of voice at the college and Stoia is now an accompanist in the Music Department after retiring in 2020 as associate dean of undergraduate education for the College of Humanities and Fine Arts.