Rafael Payare Conducts Coleridge-Taylor's "The Song of Hiawatha"

Rafael Payare conducted the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal in a performance of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor's "The Song of Hiawatha" at the Usher Hall during the Edinburgh International Festival. The performance, part of festival director Nicola Benedetti's programming of Victorian cantatas, featured a crisp chorus and strong soloists, with Payare leading the ensemble with commitment and verve. While "The Song of Hiawatha," a trilogy of cantatas composed by the Black British composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor around the turn of the 20th century, was once immensely popular, packing venues like the Albert Hall for weeks on end between the World Wars, its contemporary viability is questioned. The score itself, though charming, is distinctly Victorian. More significant challenges arise from the libretto, which consists of over 800 lines written in trochaic tetrameter by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and a narrative that depicts the Native American Hiawatha endorsing the colonisation of his land by "people with white faces." Payare, who was unfamiliar with "Hiawatha" prior to Benedetti's invitation for the Edinburgh International Festival premiere, directed the work with a taut, energetic approach. His conducting was characterized by tightly coiled yet expansive gestures, maintaining a consistent tension throughout the performance. Although this approach occasionally meant soloists had less flexibility and space, and the chorus was not always guided towards longer phrases or quieter dynamics, the overall rewards were substantial. Payare effectively highlighted the thematic and tonal connections within the cantatas and demonstrated a keen awareness of their dancelike qualities. The performance at the Usher Hall was part of a broader initiative by Nicola Benedetti to revive interest in these once-popular, though now less frequently performed, Victorian cantatas. Coleridge-Taylor, born in London in 1875, achieved significant international recognition during his lifetime for his compositions, which often drew inspiration from African and Native American themes. "The Song of Hiawatha" remains one of his most enduring works, despite the critical discussions surrounding its historical context and narrative. The Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, a major Canadian orchestra, has a history of performing diverse repertoire under distinguished conductors. Rafael Payare, a Venezuelan conductor, has been the music director of the OSM since 2022, succeeding Kent Nagano. His tenure has been marked by a focus on dynamic programming and energetic performances, as evidenced by this rendition of Coleridge-Taylor's work.