SANTA FE DESERT CHORALE ANNOUNCES 2019 PROGRAMMING DETAILS, INCLUDING A COMMISSION BY COMPOSER PAUL JOHN RUDOI.
ILLUMINATION IS COMPRISED OF FIVE DISTINCT CONCERT PROGRAMS.
TWENTY-FOUR FULL CONCERT PERFORMANCES AND ANCILLARY FESTIVAL PROGRAMMING SCHEDULED.
RETURN ENGAGEMENT IN DALLAS, TEXAS IS A HIGHLIGHT.
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR JOSHUA HABERMANN CONDUCTS ALL PERFORMANCES.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Santa Fe, New Mexico, February 27, 2019: Patricia Stanley, President of the Board of Directors of the Santa Fe Desert Chorale (SFDC) announced today programming details for the all professional Chorale’s 37th year.
Organized under the theme of Illumination, SFDC presents five distinct programs between April 27 and December 22, 2019: Illuminating the Dome; In the Court of the Sun King; Shining a Light on the French Baroque; Luminosity: The Nature of Celestial Light; “The long enduring pensive moons”: A Bicentenary Celebration of Walt Whitman and Other Esteemed American Poets; and Sacred Fire: The Celtic Tradition.
Illuminating the Dome: a cappella Choral Music from the Eastern Orthodox Tradition is devoted to Orthodox a cappella repertoire from the 17th century through a reprise of Santa Fe Desert Chorale’s commission, Aflame, composed by Ivan Moody and premiered in 2015. Building on the nearly sold-out recent performances of Rachmaninov’s All-Night Vigil, Op. 37, the Chorale revisits three movements from the “Vespers” programmed alongside one of Alexander Gretchaninov’s best-known sacred works, Svete Tihily “Gladsome Light,” and Estonian composer Cyrillus Kreek’s Psalms of David. Illuminating the Dome will be performed in Santa Fe and Albuquerque, NM, and Dallas, TX in April. Illuminating the Dome is sponsored by Susan Noel.
In the Court of the Sun King: Shining a Light on the French Baroque opens the 2019 Summer Festival on July 20, 2019 with a performance at Immaculate Heart of Mary Chapel in Santa Fe, followed by the Opening Night Dinner at La Posada de Santa Fe, A Tribute Portfolio Resort and Spa. The splendor of the Reign of the Sun King, France’s Louis XIV, shimmers throughout this program as the early music specialists in the Santa Fe Desert Chorale shine a light on the French Baroque. Favored at the Palace of Versailles, François Couperin’s Leçons de Ténèbres is a central work on the program which also features compositions by contemporaries Marc-Antoine Charpentier and Jean-Philippe Rameau. Instrumentalists Stephen Redfield, Violin; Dana Winograd, Cello; and David Solem, Organ are sponsored by Ann Aceves and Phil Martin. Dr. George Case will give free, public pre-concert talks 90 minutes before each concert at Immaculate Heart of Mary Chapel in Santa Fe, NM.
“The long-enduring pensive moons”: A Bicentenary Celebration of Walt Whitman and Other Esteemed American Poets program is sponsored by Suzanne M. Timble. In 2019 we celebrate the bicentenary of Walt Whitman, whose verse is at the heart of the American experience. In response to Whitman, Paul John Rudoi sets Francisco X. Alarcón’s poem “Canto” in his world premiere composition commissioned by the Santa Fe Desert Chorale. Also included is music on poetry of Emily Dickinson and
e.e. cummings, as well as William Averitt’s Afro-American Fragments on words of Langston Hughes.The commission by composer Paul John Rudoi is sponsored in part by Douglas P. Clark, MD and Scott J. Allocco. Pianist Nathan Salazar’s appearance is sponsored by Ann Aceves and Phil Martin. Dr. Robert Kyr will give free, public pre- concert talks 90 minutes before each concert in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel of The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in Santa Fe, NM.
Luminosity: The Nature of Celestial Light is titled after James Whitbourn’s 25-minute work, Luminosity. NPR’s All Things Considered reviewed the work stating: “The word ‘luminosity’ describes the nature of celestial light, and the music of composer James Whitbourn is a celebration of that light — peaceful, radiant, and clear.’’ Felix Mendelssohn’s Ave Maria, Op. 23 and J.S. Bach’s motet Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit auf, BWV 226 are followed by the “Santiago” movement from Joby Talbot’s pilgrimage composition Path of Miracles (with movement directed by Nicola Bowie), completing the audience’s journey. Instrumentalists David Solem, Organ; Kim Fredenburgh, Viola; Kyle Nielsen, Percussion and Amplified Tanpura are
sponsored by Ann Aceves and Phil Martin. The choreographer is sponsored by Janice L. Mayer. The opening concert of this program is sponsored by James Murphy and Roxanne Howe-Murphy. Dr. Gregory Grabowski will give free, public pre-concert talks 90 minutes before each concert in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel of The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in Santa Fe, NM.
New to the summer programming are two Late Nights; jazz performances with Desert Chorale sopranos Chelsea Helm and Kathryn Radakovich joining the Bert Dalton Trio at El Mesón. The vocalists’ appearances are underwritten by Laurie and Dick Meyer. In a vocal chamber music program, SFDC vocalists, Alissa Ruth Suver, Soprano; Dianna Grabowski, Mezzo-soprano; Angela Young Smucker, Mezzo-soprano; and John Buffett, Baritone collaborate with a string quartet comprised of Stephen Redfield, Violin, David Felberg, Violin, Kim Fredenburgh, Viola; and Dana Winograd, Cello at The Church of the Holy Faith. Vocalists Sarah Moyer, Soprano; Kate Maroney, Mezzo-soprano; Paul John Rudoi, Tenor; and Enrico Lagasca, Bass will perform in recital with Pianist, Nathan Salazar at St. Bede’s Episcopal Church. Allegra and Jim Derryberry are the sponsors of the vocal recital program. Instrumentalists for the chamber and recital program are sponsored by Ann Aceves and Phil Martin.
The 2019 Winter Festival program is Sacred Fire: The Celtic Tradition. Performances will take place in Albuquerque, Los Alamos, and Santa Fe, NM. In the darkness of mid- winter, when the sun seems to stand still, we warm the hearth with traditional music from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and other Celtic lands. Audiences will celebrate the solstice with the Santa Fe Desert Chorale at one of 11 concerts throughout Northern New Mexico. The December 17, 2019 concert is sponsored by Reflective Jewelry.
Ancillary programming under the Insights & Sounds mantle includes two panel discussions: Singing Under the Dome of Heaven with Rev. Talitha Arnold, Fr. John Bethancourt, and Canon Mark Edw. Childers to be held at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church on April 7, 2019 at 3 pm; “Song of Myself” exploring identity in Walt Whitman and Francisco X. Alarçon’s poetry with composer Paul John Rudoi, and Michael J. Adee, PhD, a civil rights advocate who has been working in the LGBT and HIV-AIDS communities since 1988. A contemporary poet will also join this panel at Counter Culture Café which is underwritten by Janet S. Sanders, PhD. In a third supplemental event, an octet of Santa Fe Desert Chorale vocalists will preview Illumination programming at the City of Santa Fe Arts Commission’s Community Gallery. Select artists exhibiting in the Happy Little Clouds: Skyscapes of New Mexico also introduce their art. In the fourth event,
Dr. Bruce Noll will lead Walt Whitman’s America at the Santa Fe Public Library – Southside Branch. He will be joined by an octet of SFDC vocalists performing repertoire from the Chorale’s poetry-based concert program. Dr. Noll’s presentation is sponsored by the New Mexico Humanities Council and the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs. (See attached Insights & Sounds listing for details.)
The Stephen and Jane Hochberg Youth and Family Programming Initiative sponsors two family programs this summer. Included are: Liquid Light Glass, a glass blowing demonstration and workshop at Master Artist Elodie Holmes’ company Liquid Light Glass in the Baca Arts District; and Earth, Moon, and Sun; a three-part program at The Planetarium at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science. (See attached listing of youth and family programming.)
Santa Fe Sings!, a choral workshop for avocational singers, is celebrating its fourth year. Sponsored by Stephen and Jane Hochberg, Santa Fe Sings! draws participants ranging in age from eighth graders to octogenarians for a day of joyful community singing led by Joshua Habermann. In 2019, we will gather at United Church of Santa Fe on May 18th. Registration is now open.
Hearts in Harmony, the Desert Chorale’s weekly choral sing at the Interfaith Community Center, continues under the leadership of Chorale Alto Sarah Nickerson and Angela Gabriel. Now in its 70th session, the participants are working toward their annual showcase which will be held on Wednesday, August 7, 2019. Hearts in Harmony is supported by cross-sector funding from CHRISTUS St. Vincent Regional Medical Center,
Santa Fe Community Foundation, the Mission and Outreach Committee of The Church of the Holy Faith, and by The Candyman Strings & Things.
Santa Fe Desert Chorale Mission Statement:
The mission of the Santa Fe Desert Chorale, one of the nation’s premier professional vocal ensembles, is to excite, engage, and inspire diverse audiences with the beauty and power of great choral music.
Santa Fe Desert Chorale Community Engagement Statement of Purpose: “The Santa Fe Desert Chorale is committed to sharing the power of music with diverse populations by providing arts access through collaborative programming and community engagement.”
About the Santa Fe Desert Chorale:
Founded in 1982 by Lawrence “Larry” Bandfield, the Santa Fe Desert Chorale is one of the longest continually performing professional music organizations in New Mexico, as well as one of the most distinguished. In his review of the American Voices program, Scott Cantrell of The Dallas Morning News wrote “The variety certainly displayed the ensemble’s impressive versatility. Habermann consistently got vivid performances, introspective music elegantly colored and shaped, extrovert fare delivered with great pizzazz. Individual singers got lots of solo exposure.”
Now in his 11th season, Artistic Director Joshua Habermann leads the Chorale in repertoire spanning seven centuries, from early polyphony to contemporary works. The composition of the Chorale is truly national in scope and the ensemble is recognized among the finest American chamber choirs. A recent highlight was an invitational appearance at the American Choral Directors Association National Conference, which was later broadcast by Minnesota Public Radio. In the 2017-2018 season, the Chorale toured to Chicago, Dallas, Fort Worth, Los Angeles, and Oklahoma City, and presented regular winter and summer seasons in New Mexico. Now in its 36th year, the Desert Chorale summer festival season is a centerpiece of the cultural life of Santa Fe, and among the nation’s most significant choral events. The Chorale’s first commercial release, The Road Home, launched at No. 3 on the Billboard Classical Chart this spring, following a sold-out CD Launch program here in Santa Fe.
Throughout its history, the Chorale has maintained a commitment to give voice to music from Hispanic and Native American communities. Dedicated to advancing the composers of our time, the Chorale has commissioned 23 works by 19 composers; three-quarters of the composers commissioned have been American. In addition, another seven works have been given their world or American premieres by the Santa Fe Desert Chorale. The ensemble performs at historical sites in Santa Fe such as the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi and Loretto Chapel, as well as other venues throughout the Southwest.
The Desert Chorale prides itself on its strong relationships within the community of Northern New Mexico, and enjoys collaborations with the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, Interfaith Community Shelter, Museum of International Folk Art, Museum of Spanish Colonial Art, New Mexico History Museum, Performance Santa Fe, Santa Fe Botanical Garden, Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, Santa Fe Pro Musica, Santa Fe Opera, and Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, among others.
Community engagement programming partners the Chorale with other musical, artistic, social services and educational organizations in Santa Fe and on tour. Other important goals include fostering the next generation of singers and arts administrators.
Ticket Information:
Tickets for mainstage concerts range from $20- $95. Registration criteria for Insights & Sounds, Stephen and Jane Hochberg Youth and Family Initiatives, Community Engagement programs and Special Events varies widely. Information and registration is available at desertchorale.org and by telephone at (505)988-2282.
