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scheduled for the 2008-2009 season. Please call
In our April 13, 2008 concert, two more composers had ‘first performances’ forming part of our programme at Christ Church Cathedral in St. Louis which celebrated the heritage of Winchester Cathedral in England. We were delighted that British composer Francis Pott was able to join us for the première of his When David Heard, commissioned for this concert. Since Francis sang for several years in the Winchester Cathedral Choir, and still lives in the nearby village of Littleton, he was our obvious choice for this commission.
The other composer, John Sheppard, was not able to hear the first performance of his Beati Omnes in modern times because he died 450 years ago! Professor Craig Monson of Washington University generously lent his expertise to reconstructing this fragmentary psalm setting, which was almost certainly written for the wedding held in Winchester Cathedral of Queen Mary Tudor and King Philip II of Spain. (May 29, 2008)
The February 10, 2008 concert featureed several rarely heard pieces, not to mention a world première (see below). Among the former are a pungent and acerbic setting of Thomas à Kempis, O Fons Amoris, by the late Stephen Oliver. Oliver’s music was previously heard here when the Opera Theatre of St. Louis gave the U.S. premiere in 1987 of Beauty and the Beast. Oliver died from AIDS in 1992. Another rarely performed work on the February program was the folk cantata Romance from the Dandelions by the Czech composer Bohuslav Martinu. As is our custom, the Chorus sang it in the original language. (February 10, 2008)
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Among the new works to be premièred this season was Howard Helvey’s Evening Song which sets a poem by American Civil War poet, Sidney Lanier. We are delighted that Howard could travel from Cincinnati, where he directs the music at Cavalry Episcopal Church, for the first performance of this work, held at the historic Old St. Ferdinand Shrine in Florissant on February 10, 2008.
This is Howard’s second commission from the the Chamber Chorus; in the first concert
of our 2006-07 season we premièred his Three Teasdale Madrigals which
were subsequently accepted by Oxford University press. Howard was also present at that
concert; photo shows him (right) with Artistic Director Philip
Barnes following the 2006 concert.
(February 10, 2008)
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A new recording — our ninth — of the Chamber Chorus has been released by Regent Records based in England, and was available at our Christmas 2007 concert. The compact disc, entitled Saint Louis Commissions, features four of our recent commissions: Ned Rorem’s Ode to Man, Judith Bingham’s The Shepheardes Calender, Clare Maclean’s Os Anthos Chortou, and the Requiem by Sasha Johnson Manning. The CD (REG CD 255) will be distributed in the United States by Albany Records (www.albanyrecords.com), and otherwise is available from the Chamber Chorus office (see our Recordings page), or online from either Amazon (www.amazon.com) or Regent Records (www.regent-records.co.uk).
The CD was recorded in Our Lady of Sorrows Church,
which has proven to be an outstanding choice for the Chorus’ distinctive repertoire
and sound. Regent’s chief producer
Gary Cole
flew to St. Louis to supervise the recording sessions, which were engineered by
Barry Hufker, one of
St. Louis’ preeminent sound engineers. Assisting in the production was
our own Martha Shaffer.
(January 30, 2008)
We congratulate former ‘Composer-In-Residence’ Sasha Johnson Manning on the critical acclaim greeting her new Manchester Carols. The Independent newspaper (Dec. 19, 2007) observed: “What makes the Manchester Carols so stunning is the music of Johnson Manning, who has a real gift for melody. Her carols stand proudly in the tradition of Warlock, Howells, Darke, Hadley and Rutter. Using just a small woodwind group with two recorders, a double string quartet, harp, bells and piano she coaxes a wide range of colour across the 16 songs, which are, by turns, tender and plangent, touching and joyful, happy and vigorous, and gloriously unsentimental.” As a result, Sasha has been commissioned by the BBC to compose a major new work for Good Friday. (January 30, 2008)
Among the St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s compliments for our “Lutheran Christmas” (Concert III) was Sarah Bryan Miller’s recognition of our latest commission: “For sheer appeal, it would be hard to top the Chamber Chorus’ nifty new commission by the young British composer David Bednall. ‘From heaven above to Earth I come,’ a setting of Luther’s ‘Vom Himmel hoch,’ is melodic, happily rhythmic and kind to both the voice and the ear.” Since then, David has had another success, when the BBC broadcast in January his new ‘Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis,’ sung by Wells Cathedral Choir. (January 30, 2008)
Our second concert has recently been singled out by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch as “THE choral performance of 2007.” Critic Sarah Bryan Miller particularly praised our Composer-in-Residence’s latest contribution: “Clare Maclean’s ‘Vive in Deo!’ was written specifically for this space and concert, and its world première proved memorable. The text came from memorial inscriptions in the Roman catacombs; the musical key, the use of distinctive birdcalls, came from the etching of a dove on the headstone of another saint at the motherhouse. Maclean’s use of the songs of doves proved inspired; the inscriptions were touching. The piece is fascinating and hypnotic, influenced by plainsong and other early forms. It deserves further hearings. It got a gorgeous reading from the Chamber Chorus. Soprano Kate Talbert and alto Phyllis Pasley sang well on two brief solos. Talbert also learned a longer solo on very short notice for an ailing colleague. Hers is a beautiful voice, clear, carrying and unforced.” (January 30, 2008)
Following the 52nd-season opener, whose repertoire was inspired by or originated in the Far East, we received compliments from the two contemporary composers whose works appeared on the program. John Schlenck, whose Invocations: Hymns from The Upanishads were sung, wrote, “Congratulations on your performance of my Invocations. Beautifully and sensitively rendered. I also enjoyed listening to the rest of the program, which was quite interesting and unusual. I particularly like the Paulus and the Gabrieli.” And Stephen Paulus wrote, “I have really enjoyed the CD you sent with your Chamber Chorus’s performance of my Meditations of Li Po. You have done a wonderful job with the work and I applaud both you and the singers.” (January 30, 2008)
Two new co-librarians have been appointed by the Board of Directors to succeed Roberta Hmiel, who has generously served as Librarian for many seasons, as well as singing alto in the Chorus. Her successors are soprano Megan Thomas and tenor David Goldman. We are very grateful to them for stepping forward to fill Roberta’s shoes and assisting in this vital aspect of the Chorus’ work. (August 2, 2007)
A warm welcome to our newest board member, Amanda Verbeck, who brings us a wealth of experience, both as a singer and an artist. Amanda gave up her position in the alto section at the end of the last season in order to focus on her fine arts printing business, but she graciously agreed to keep her association with the Chorus by joining the board, as of August 2007. (August 1, 2007)
At the end of the 51st season we bid farewell to several full members who are moving from the St. Louis area or have opted for a break. Our thanks for all your musicianship and hard work to Amanda Verbeck (Alto), Jeff Kindle (Tenor), and Brian Werner (Bass). And to veteran member Dennis Nall (Bass) we say: You have been a part of the Chamber Chorus for many seasons, and your musicianship and professionalism will be sorely missed. Despite taking a deserved retirement, we hope to see you and wife Sandra at our future performances, albeit on the other side of the stage! (June 21, 2007)
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After many years serving as our Librarian, Roberta Hmiel
has decided it’s time to retire from this position and concentrate upon singing
in the choir. We thank her greatly for her selfless efforts for the group,
and for leaving the library in such good shape for her successor.
Photo shows Roberta Hmiel, along with her husband Paul (left) and Chamber Chorus Board President
George Durnell (right), after being honored during the final concert of the
2006-07 Season.
(May 31, 2007)
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Our April 15, 2007 concert featured not one, but two new works
composed specially for the Chamber Chorus.
Claudio Monteverdi’s opera Lamento d’Arianna, which now survives though
only four out of five choruses, was given a new conclusion with
Clare Maclean’s commission Misera, Ancor Do
Loco, and together they provided the music for a solo dance performance specially devised
by the distinguished choreographer Janet Park Datema, Dance Curator and Director of
International Development for the Seoul (Korea) International Dance Festival.
Photo shows (left to right) choreographer Janet Park Datema, Artistic Director
Philip Barnes, and dancer Holly Seitz Marchant.
See also Sarah Bryan Miller’s review of the concert in the
St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
(April 16, 2007)
The internationally distributed magazine Gramophone includes in its March 2007 issue a feature story about St. Louis. The Chamber Chorus is singled out for special praise: “There are definite bright spots beyond the opera and the orchestra. Chief among these is the St. Louis Chamber Chorus, a 40-voice a cappella choir.” The article then describes in some detail each season, our mission, and comments, “the repertoire is wide-ranging and eclectic.” (Mar 9, 2007)
Our commissions of new music have remained at the high quality established by Howard Helvey at the season opener back in October 2006. Of Sasha Johnson Manning’s new piece, premiered at our joint concert with Norwich Cathedral Choir in late October, Sarah Bryan Miller, classical music critic of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, wrote: ‘The most memorable work of the afternoon was the world première of British composer Sasha Johnson Manning’s “Song: in memoriam GRF.” Commissioned for the occasion, it’s a lovely piece with the gentle feel of a traditional folk song.’ Ms. Miller further praised Patrick Zuk’s new carol, Ye Sons Of Men, that was first heard in our “Celtic Christmas” program: ‘[It’s] highly accessible but still complex and interesting, with a surprising “amen;” it should have a life beyond St. Louis.’ In February we proudly premiered Carl Rütti’s new version, for eight part chorus, of the Lutheran chorale Aus Tiefer Not. The newspaper review (again by Sarah Bryan Miller) read, ‘Beginning with the basses singing in the subbasement, it builds to a crescendo with the sopranos in a auditory sunburst, then continues in gorgeous waves of sound. It was beautifully sung and an impressive work that should be picked up by other choirs.’
To this season’s international roster of commissionees (Helvey of the United States, Johnson Manning of Great Britain, Zuk of Ireland, Rütti of Switzerland), we add Clare Maclean of New Zealand, whose new work will be heard for the first time on April 15. (Mar 9, 2007)
Congratulations to Philip Barnes, our Artistic Director, for being named as Conductor of the Year by Sarah Bryan Miller, classical music critic of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The citation was included as part of her 2006 summary. (Mar 9, 2007)
All of his friends in the Chamber Chorus extend congratulations to tenor Larry Wahlers, who wed Sharon Rocchio on Saturday, November 25, 2006. (Nov 29, 2006)
Judith Bingham, who has written two works for the Chamber Chorus in the past few years, Aquileia and A Shepheardes Calender, won in the choral category of the British Composer Awards, held in London on Friday, November 24, 2006. Judith was nominated in three different categories this year, which was a remarkable achievement in itself. Congratulations, Judith! (Nov 29, 2006)
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Norwich Cathedral Choir from England proved wonderful
partners in a program devoted to the music of Gerald Finzi, his friends and teachers.
The concert, on October 22, 2006, also marked our first visit to the very
‘Anglican’ parish of
St. Michael and St. George in
Clayton. Premièred by the joint choirs was
Sasha Johnson Manning’s
Song: in memoriam GRF, which was hailed in Sarah Bryan Miller’s review as the
standout piece on the program.
(Nov 29, 2006)