Pasatiempo | James M. Keller | Link to article

Choral music enjoyed a vogue in much of Europe during the 19th century, but it reached a pinnacle in Germany. Choral societies of various sorts were founded in all of its major cities, sometimes taking the form of civic or university chorales, sometimes as all-male or all-female groups. One of the richest troves of Romantic choral music came from Johannes Brahms, who held a job directing a women’s chorus in Hamburg from 1859 to 1861. Joshua Habermann leads the Santa Fe Desert Chorale in a cappella and piano-accompanied songs from six of Brahms’ choral collections, including selections from both volumes of his Zigeunerlieder (Gypsy Songs). Pianist Debra Ayers assists and offers two of the composer’s op. 119 intermezzos as solo items. The program is unveiled at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, July 22, and is reprised at the same hour on July 26, July 31, and Aug. 1, in every case at the First Presbyterian Church, 208 Grant Ave. Tickets ($20-$55) are available through the Desert Chorale’s box office (505-988-2282 or www.desertchorale.org).