A Sanctuary of Sound

Program Sponsors

Catherine and Guy Gronquist

Conductor

Joshua Habermann

Artistic Director
Sponsored by Carmen Paradis and Brian McGrath

Last performed in 2016, the Santa Fe Desert Chorale is thrilled to continue the tradition of presenting Sergei Rachmaninoff’s profoundly beautiful and deeply spiritual All-Night Vigil (popularly known as Vespers). This cornerstone of choral music consists of fifteen movements of unaccompanied voices creating a cathedral of sound, resonating with both the ancient and the innovative. Composed in less than two weeks in 1915 against the backdrop of war, Rachmaninoff’s masterpiece marries traditional Orthodox chants with his distinctive harmonic language, creating a work of great emotional depth. From the grand opening of “Come, Let Us Worship” to the famous low B-flat descent in “Now Lettest Thou,” the Vespers showcases the full expressive range of the human voice. The Desert Chorale will expand to 32 top-tier professional vocalists to tackle this Herculean work. Whether you’re hearing the Vespers for the first time or revisiting a beloved favorite, this program promises to be an unforgettable journey through what many consider to be the pinnacle of Russian choral music.

Artwork: Blood Moon Over Santa Fe by Evelyne Boren, Acosta Strong Fine Art Gallery

Singer Sponsors

J. Randle Adair

Addy Sterrett, soprano

Murray and Nancy Bern

John Buffett, bass

Bill and Susan Cammock

Brad Diamond, tenor

Dr. Douglas P. Clark and Mr. Scott Allocco

Elijah McCormack, soprano

Tom and Anne Conner

Kathlene Ritch, soprano

Allegra and Jim Derryberry

Sarah Moyer, soprano

Gregory Dove

TBD

Richard and Chris Frenk

George Case, tenor

Diane and Bill Graves

Glenn Miller, bass

Rick Gustafson

Kerry Ginger, alto

Sheryl Kelsey and George Duncan

Dianna Grabowski, alto
Michael Jones, tenor
Neil Netherly, bass
John Orduña, bass
Pamela Terry, alto