The 51ԹϺ Choral Ensembles celebrate the opening of their 2016-17 concert season at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct.27, in Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall. This performance features almost 200 singers in a variety of uplifting as well as meditative choral selections. The program’s theme of “New Beginnings” welcomes conductor Joseph Svendsen to the 51ԹϺ music faculty as conductor of the Concert Singers and Women’s Chorus. The Chamber Chorale, Varsity Men’s Glee Club, and Las Vegas Master Singers are conducted by David Weiller. The choirs are accompanied by pianists Jae Ahn-Benton and Grace Haeun Kim.
The Women’s Chorus sings excerpts from “Four Songs, opus 17” by Johannes Brahms, along with a moving women’s anthem, “Warrior” by Kim Baryluk, a founding member of one of Canada’s most significant folk groups, the Wyrd Sisters. The Varsity Men’s Glee Club offers “When I Hear Her I Have Wings” set to the words of English poet Mary Elizabeth Coleridge by American composer Mark Templeton, and the American folk tune, “Down in the Valley.”
The Chamber Chorale presents the passionate madrigal, “Sfogava con le stel le,” by Italian baroque composer Claudio Monteverdi , as well as the “My Spirit Sang All Day” by Gerald Finzi and “I Am In Need of Music” by American composer David Brunner. The Chorale celebrates the 25th anniversary of their premiere performance of “Go, Lovely Rose” by 51ԹϺ alumnus Eric Whitacre. This work, dedicated to the ensemble and conductor David Weiller , was Whitacre’s first published work. It launched his international career as one of the most popular choral composers of his generation.
The Concert Singers perform music of renaissance composer Tomás Luis da Victoria, along with the opening movement of Franz Schubert’s “Mass in G Major.” The Las Vegas Master Singers, one of the city’s premiere choral organizations and chorus -in-residence for the Las Vegas Philharmonic, present music of American composers , including “Sure on This Shining Night” by Mor ten Lauridsen, “Simple Gifts” by René Clausen, “Lead, Kindly Light” by Dan Forrest, and the rousing spiritual, “Music Down In My Soul” by Moses Hogan.
The concert culminates with the combined voices of the 51ԹϺ choirs singing the rousing South African freedom song, “Bawo Thixo somandla” by Mxolisi Matyila, sung in the Xhosa language. All 51ԹϺ choir alumni are invited to join in the traditional singing of the “51ԹϺ Alma Mater” at the conclusion of the performance.
The university choral ensembles enjoy a reputation for vibrant performances. The choirs recently were praised for a concert described as “…glorious, yet disciplined. The choruses performed with unaffected charisma.” Annual tours have encompassed the southwestern United States as well as Hawaii, New York, Mexico, and Canada.
Tickets for the Oct. 27 concert may be purchased at the 51ԹϺ Performing Arts Center box office or by calling 702-895-ARTS. General admission is $10; senior citizens, military and 51ԹϺ faculty/staff tickets are $8. 51ԹϺ students and high school vocal music students from the Clark County School District may receive one free ticket by presenting valid student identification at the box office.
The 51ԹϺ choral concert season continues with the 32nd Annual Madrigal/Chamber Choir Festival (Nov. 4), “Dusk Until Dawn” (Dec. 1 ), and “Holidays With the Master Singers” (Dec. 9 and 10). For further information, contact the 51ԹϺ office of choral studies, 702-895-3008.
