Bass-baritone Alan Held will be performing the role of St. Francis on Friday and Saturday, June 26 and 27 as the Franciscans celebrate the milestone of the 800th anniversary of the founding of their order at a concert titled, “A Celebration of Hope and Peace.”

I had the unique opportunity to interview Mr. Held about working with local Chicago composer Fr. Robert Hutmacher, ofm and singing the role of St. Francis.

Question: How did you originally meet Fr. Hutmacher and what did he say to convince you to come perform for Chiesa Nuova?

Held: I first met Father Bob when I was singing at Lyric Opera of Chicago in 1996.  I attended Mass at St. Peter's in the Loop.  I guess we heard each other singing and a friendship was begun.  Not long after that, we met up again by chance in a Christian bookstore in Chicago and just began talking about our love for the arts and expression of one's faith and inner joy through music.  I enjoyed hearing him speak of "having church" in a new and unique manner.  I truly love the idea of expressing the beauty of our faith and that which is within us through our arts.

Since then, I was honored to give a recital for the benefit of Chiesa Nuova during the early days of the ministry formation and have also enjoyed some very informal gatherings and times around the piano at CN.  When Father Bob (or as I call him "Hoot") started writing the wonderful piece we are to perform at the June celebration, he often shared with me bits and pieces of his thinking.  I was very much interested in someday singing the "role" of Francis and being a part of his oratorio.  My schedule would not allow me to sing the part until now but I am so happy that this is all coming together for June.

Question: What do you think is the importance of something like Chiesa Nuova? – it’s so different from your normal venues.

Held: Well, there is no doubt that the venue where CN normally has its gatherings is different than La Scala or the Lyric Opera House in Chicago.  However, CN has provided opportunities for artists to share their talents, express their faith through their gifts, and also allows the audience and the artists to be close together.  Some wonderful things happen with this all comes together.  Music and the arts can not be one way streets---it has to be a sharing of the talents of the artist and the reaction from the audience (good or bad).  This close sharing that has occurred via CN is a true blessing to many. 

Question: What do you think of Fr. Hutmacher as a composer?

Held: I have been honored to have Hoot compose some very special songs for me.  One of those songs, "Der Gottsucher", is one that I sing at all my recitals.  It tells of a man's search for God in life and how he finally is told by God that the Lord has been with him all along.  It is moving to me.  Hoot is at his best when he is trying to express text---texts that obviously move him deeply.  It is very apparent in his compositions that he is almost bursting to get the passion of the words expressed.  It can come bubbling forth through a harp glissando or a simple flute melody.  If I didn't enjoy his works so often and appreciate them, I wouldn't be singing them.  

Question:  Can you comment on the Oratorio of Francis and Clare.

Held: This is a piece that I'm getting to know more and more.  I'm enjoying spending the time with it.  There is great expression of pain to be sure---but there is also great rejoicing expressed in the music.  Hoot's style really comes through.  I like the simplicity of the dialogues between Francis and Claire and there is a wonderful melody that reoccurs often through the piece.  It can nearly lift you out of your seat!!!
 
Question:  How do you feel about singing the part of Francis?
 
Held: It can be very difficult to sing the roles of characters who were real, passionate, influential, and committed people.  It is a challenge to be sure.  One role I often sing is John the Baptist in Richard Strauss' opera "Salome".  In fact, it is a role that I sang at Lyric Opera of Chicago in 2006 and am currently rehearsing in Geneva, Switzerland.  One wants to get the expression of what this great prophet had to say just right.  I feel many of those same feelings in trying to sing Francis.  I have been to Assisi and seen where Francis walked and have seen and heard the devotion in his words.  I want to make sure that I do my best to express this role in the manner in which Hoot has conceived it and in a way that brings a very positive reflection on the life and trials of Francis.  In addition, I want to make sure that the audience has an encounter with the music and text that will impact them to express the same joy and want to seek out the same devotion to our Lord as did Francis. 

Recognized internationally as one of the leading singing actors today, American bass-baritone Alan Held has appeared in major roles in the world's finest opera houses including the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Seattle Opera, Washington National Opera, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Teatro alla Scala, Vienna State Opera, Paris Opera, Munich State Opera, Bavarian State Opera, Hamburg State Opera, Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona, Teatro de la Maestranza in Seville, the Netherlands Opera, and Theatre Royal de la Monnaie. His many roles include Wotan in the Wagner's Ring Cycle, Leporello in Don Giovanni, the Four Villains in Les Contes d'Hoffman, Jochanaan in Salome, Kurwenal in Tristan und Isolde, Don Pizzaro in Fidelio, Orestes in Elektra, Balstrode in Peter Grimes and the title role in Wozzeck

A native of Washburn, Illinois, Mr. Held received his vocal training at Millikin University and Wichita State University. He is a recipient of numerous honors and awards including the Birgit Nilsson Prize and is also a noted clinician who regularly gives master classes and private coachings at Yale University. For two weeks in April, 2008, Mr. Held served as an Artist in Residence at Millikin University.

Chiesa Nuova, a Franciscan ministry for the performing arts in Chicago will present “A Celebration of Hope and Peace” at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 26 and 27 at Lund Auditorium in the Performing Arts Center, Dominican University, 7900 Division St., River Forest, IL. Performing will be world-renowned bass-baritone Alan Held, mezzo-soprano Stacy Eckert, the Ars Viva Symphony Orchestra, and the 40-voice New Classic Singers.

The concert will consist of three major works: “Prayer for Peace” by Chicagoan Fr. Robert Hutmacher, “Five Mystical Songs” by Ralph Vaughn Williams, and “Dialogue of Francis and Clare” by Fr. Hutmacher. The featured work will be the oratorio “Dialogue of Francis and Clare,” which tells the story of a period after Francis experienced the Stigmata in 1224, a story of healing and mystical prayer between two people consumed by the love of God.

Tickets are $40 - 50. For tickets or more information, call the Lund Auditorium box office at 708-488-5000 or visit: http://www.dom.edu/pac. For more information about Chiesa Nuova visit: http://www.chiesanuova.org.